The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-12
THE CONCERTS OF one DAY
JOSEF HOFFMAN, GIVES a sec.
OSD PIANO RECITAL.

second Afternoon sabscripsien Coeccrt
% the New York y, mphony society
-AdSlphe Berchard. Pianist. Makes
iiis First Appearance In New York..
Josef Hofmann gave his second piano
recital yesterday afternoon at Carnegie
Hall. His programme comprised com
positions nv Sch,mann. Chopin and
i.iszt and was certainly representative
Of the hest which the romantic school
poured into the language Of the keyboard
instrument. The Schumann numbers were
the q minor sonata. "Vogel ais Prophet.
-Traumeswirren' and the Carnival
The two shorter pieces served as excellent
intermezzi between the two larger works.
The sonata IN not played often. Pianists
cling to the works OF Beethoven in the
sonata form and of course are not ~ b"
chicden for ~ doing But it need not
necessarily always D.. Beethoven. Schu-
mann's snnatas are found among his Early
opus numbers. 10 b., sure: but as every
student Of the pianists art is well aware.
the maturity Of tins masters style was
manifested in his first published compost
tions. For this reason the sonatas are
well worthy OF the attention OF players
who aspire to be something more than
mere virtuosi.
Mr.. Hofmann found the G minor sonata
an apt vehicle for the disclosure OF his
art. The tempestuous rush OF the scherzo
was as clear as sparkling water under his
charmed fingers. Will" he sang the touch
ingly tender little andantino with lovely
feeling and a tone SO beautiful that It
ravished the ear
His playing OF the hewi-hChiuG and
poetic -Nog.l ais Prophet was what III"
av"raS" hearer would b" we'll justified
IN "allinG marvellous Tn" exquisite
gradations of the nuances and their
perfect adjustment to general plan
conceived with captivating idealism were
products Of an art which IN now appar-
entity IN the zenith Of It's splendor.
In. Carnival however. was the
crowning achievement Of the Schumann
group I, is no small ventur. to play this
composition TO a large audience. which
cannot be supposed 10 know the siguiii-
canoe Of its various parts How many
concert goers know who Euseb!us. Flores
tan and Chiarina wer', Or are acquainted
With Schumann's imaginary so"iety OF
Davidit.s, who's" business IL was to er-
terminate PhilisiineS
What can ~. tn. reference for them 81
that cunning quotation IN IN" Flor~stan
episode Of "A phrase from the -Papillons.
that other earlier and Vet almost as won
derful tone picture II masked BALI
Who gathers the meaning Of the bass
part laundering of the grandfather song
aS counterpart To- he -Davidshundl.r
march
The truth ~ that most hearers must rely
for their pleasnr" on such ie"tInG fancieS
as they can gather from the surface hints
of the titles and on the pianists ability
10 vitalizs these sketches for them 10y tn.
glamour 81 his art There need he no
hesitation in saving thar no other musician
has don" this more successfully IN thus
CITY that Mr. HOFFMAN, did II Yesterday
afternoon
The present writer Confesses 20 a very
spaClal and tender love for thus compost
tion which no has hesn studying for many
wears iandor comp~ls IN. statement
that h. never heard ~ PLAYED with such
conslrnrnat. mas'.rshIp of ITS relodlc
phrasaology its manifold possibilities Of
color. iis fairy land Of animated imagery
ard It's occasional dasCeuts into tn" dseps
of emotion a. II was yesterday.
Tn. pianist reached his highest flights
IN the Eu-eb,u~ and Flor.stan contrast.
IN IN. indescrihahIy beautiful reading
of the chopin passage and IN the Nalsc
Nnbl. But these were only higher sum
mlts IN what was all far ny in the clear.
cool air around the mountain tops IL
WAS the performance Of a great master.
and TO hear II was a privilege and JOY
The chopin numbers on Mr.. Hofmann
programme wer" the A major and minon
polonais.s. the 4 fat smpromptu, the
mlnon mazurka and the major scherzo
The two polonaIses and the scherzo are
very seldom played The Llszt pieces
were the Consolation IN" u far "tude.
tho 4 major -L.gende' and the r major
polonaise Tn. audience was large and
very enthusiastic.