The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-17

Behind the scenes boy OF twelve, as
| boyish, playful and care-free as the aver
age. child of his age; seated at his piano,
n true artist, engrossed solely In his
work. with real grip on the compost
tons OF the masters in music-this is
Fepito Arriola who Thursday night.
both charmed and mystifed an audience
OF 1000 music-lovers at the Salt Lake
theater.
lis indeed n far cry from the bigness
| and breadth of Beethoven's Waldstein
sonata to the Liebestraum OF List and
his great sixth Rhapsodie. but through
all al the difficult programme Pepto never
doubt. and his rendition OF every number
was marked by clear comprehension.
accurate execution and fine interpreta-
tion: As soon as the child touches, the
Keys, he seems to forget himself and his
audience. There is no affectatlon, no
striving for display: you hear and think
only of the artist who is striving to make
you understand that thought in the mind
OF the composer. 1t is true genius. aided
by superb physical vitality and tech
nigu,e that could have come only from
music he had at his fingers ends. PepIto
| answered.
mine programmes. about 100 selec-
TONS. and turned quickly to pinch the
leg OF his manager from behind and make
nm jump. then to receive kiss from
his mother as he FASTENED through the
wings back to his piano.
The concert opened with the Wadstein
sonata. and the boy demonstrated his
breadth and skill in the frs. few bars:
movement a little fast, but the second
movement was almost faultless Then
came a Chopin concerto in sharp
and In this number Pepito held spell
bound those familiar with it's beauties,
There followed the preludes and the
Poonaise In a fiat major (Chopin). and
here the youthful pianist proved not
only his marvellous technique. his strength
Of wrist and quiclness of lingering, but
colored his rendering with an individual
conception that places him entirely above
the realm of merely the infant prodigy,
or marked contrast. but arousiEg even
more enthusiasm: was the beautiful in
depreciation OF Schumanns Warum. II
seems almost incredible that one who
has not lived long enough to suffer could
have read so much Into its exquisite har
monies And the same statement applies
TO the liebestraum of Liszt, The child
played II as II he himself had felt and
understood the deeper passions OF the
heart
The Hungarian Rhapsodie. big as il is.
was handled with both power and clear
ness, and. although n little weary at the
close Pepito graciouslY responded to IL
hearty encore with Durand's Concert
Waltz composition he handled we'll
Al the conclusion Of the concert, local
Manager Fred c. Graham made the an
nouncement that PepIto will play a re-
turn engagement at the theater Saturday
night giving an entire new programme.
and that special prices would be made
to all students.
Pcpito is a native of Italy, but has
spent most OF his short life in Germany
He has played the piano since he was ;
years old. This is his second American
tour. the first being confined entirely to
eastern cities. He writes much music, but
disdains TO play his own compositions. de-
clarinS there is so much more In the
works OF the masters that he prefers
them. II is not too much To say that
this modest, unassuming boy gave Salt
Lake music lovers treat and a surprise
seldom experienced.
The Merry Widow" perennially tune
ful and delightfully."- alluring, opened at
the Colonial last night. II is fair 10 as
sumo from the spontaneous applause
with which tho play was welcomed that
II still occupies a brilliant place in the
beguilinG score. its timcworn though
ever tuneful melodies and its fanciful IL
brelto combine 10 create n lasting cha rn1
and sparkle attained In few light opera
productions. 'The Merry Widow" waltz,
winch is the essence OF sparkling rhythm
mains one OF the most pleasing features
OF the play
The production is in the light OF n re-
VlVal. and much OF its continued success
is due TO the manner In which II has
been replaced before the public. The
animated with cast of principals and
a chorus that are first class in every
detail. The principals are artists and
constitute one OF the finest groups OF
stage folk that has sraced the Colonial
stage since that theater began making
history in Salt Lake. The chorus Us is
well voiced superbly costumed and good
looking. The orchestra, which is a large
one, with such a score before II and in
such brilliant company, could hardly be