Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-22
The Musical World

TOSEF HOFFMAN, and wife are
guests of the Hollywood hotel ana
y are enthusiastic over the artlstic
mission style homelike hotel at the lool
of the mountains. They had heara
Maud Adams speak so highly OF II anu
the famous pianist says "She did not
say half enough" He still looks boylsh'
but what a powerful hand he has, ana
what an artist! The lasrt time 1 saw
Herr Hoffman, was in Wales in 1894
at Nine. PATHS castle, Craig-y-Nous.
He was a mere boy. bright and enter
tanning, a great favorite of the great
prima donna.
The venture of the National opera
company at the Teatre Nazionale OF
Rome has proved a great success ana
1t will be a permanent organization OF
the highest order. The performances
were attended by the king and queen
of Italy, the Teatro Na2ionale having
special passage leading from the
royal palace to the royal boxes.
s.
An article in one of the morning
papers from one of our best musical
critics not long ago, speaking of the
"basso." expressed himself in a pecu-
most of them were wobbly and out of
tune and that few bassos in the world
have reaped much glory. Can we for
get Lablache? His glorious voice, they
tell us, was a superior one: Signor Foil
QS62), Signor Aguesi $3.50, great ar
lists, both of them. Folfs voice was
a rich, powerful basso, from e below
the line to F, and he had a repertoire
of sixty operas and was the rage of
European society for years. Then there
is Emil Fisher, who for many years has
been associated with Wagner opera and
also sang oratorio. Scaria-Stockhau-
sen, whose elijah" in a performance
at Basic decided his following the mu-
steal profession, so great was his sue
cess. Edouard de Reszkes voice was
full, rich, resonant basso, capable of
sending forth notes of immense vol
ume or those of the most tender quail
fty For years he has had the great
est success. His assumption of the role
of Mephistopheles in Faust" more
than any other established his repu-
tation as great lyric artist and one
of the greatest bassos of the century.
Plancon. the French basso, certainly
shares the popularity of Edouard de
Reszke and has been one of the per-
manent stars of the Paris opera house,
and finished artist he is. Henschel.
who was a London favorite for years,
and Santley, the King of oratorio bassos
of England; Myron w. Whitney, the
American bass, who had a superb voice,
flexible and even, and which extended
nearly three octaves. OF late years
might mention the English basso, who
now lives in Chicago. Arthur Beres-
ford, who has made reputation by his
oratorio work, and last, but by no
means least, the artist who gave us
such mastery reading of Elijah"
last week, Mr.. Witherspoon, who has
mastered all difficulties and won the
admiration of the musical world, not
alone In his own native land, but across
the water May his triumphs still con-
tinue. All honor to the American basso
who has swayed to admiration the emo
tions of two continents by his art. Gull
ture and spark of genius, which is
God given.
An event in which the greatest in
terest centers is the visit of the Won
derful pianist. Josef Hoffman,, who is
to be heard in two recitals at Simpson
auditorium tomorrow night and mat
Inc Saturday, January %. Hofmann,
though only 80 years of age. has taken
his place as a master of the plano,
and is now enjoying his fifth tour of
the United States. The height of his
popularity seemed to be reached on his
last visit, but 1t is not to be compared
with the ovations he is receiving dur
ing his present season.
Hofmann's personality is mellow.
poetic and dignif1ed. He has more in
tellectual power than any pianist be-
fore the public today. He brings into
his music brain sound to the core, a
sweet youthful fantasy and freshness,
and, above all, an intense sincerity.
He is sincere to his innermost fiber,
and with his noble ideals, unlimited
courage and marvellous assiduity tops
all living pianists of the present day.
The dominating trait in everything
that Holman does is keen intelligence.
From the moment that his incisiVe
features and penetrating eyes are be-
fore one, from the short prelude that
precedes his program to it's end. we
are forcibly struck with the acuteness
and concentration of intellect that gives
a performance of virtually scientific
precision. From this it should not be
inferred that there is anything dry or
pedantic in Hofmann's work. Far from
1t; there is never an instant when one
fails to realize his convictions are per-
fectly definite, transparent and thor
oughly consistent from his point of
view.
There are, in short, many lessons to
be learned from Hofmann's personality
and artistic qualities, but none is more
convincing than the simplicity and d.
rectness which are his cardinal virtues.
The program for tomorrow evening in
cludes the following numbers:
Prelude and Fuge, e Minor, Scherzo.
..,....... .......,....... Mendelssohn
Senate Appassionata .......,.... Beethoven
Barcarolle, Prelude, Minor. .Rachmaninoff
Au Jardtn Observation-Disclosures. Balakirom
Senate. B Minor. ..............!... Chopin
Legende est. Vincent Walking on the
Waves), Liebestraum, Campo