Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-30
.FLONzALEYS ARE
HIT IN CONCERT
Brilliant Program Is Given Be-
fore an Appreciative Audi
ence at Augustana.

When Philip Hale, musical critic of
the Boston Herald, declared that the
Flonzaley quartet need fear no rival
in this country" he voiced q senti-
ment that has become universal
throughout America, wherever the re-
!narkable organization has appeared.
/ Last night a large and enthusiastic
audience at Augustana college placed
/ its emphatic approval on the state
ment by giving the quartet the most
/ appreciative tribute that has been &C
/ corded any number on his years ar
/ list course.
Superlatives fail to describe the
work OF the quartet Each member
! Of the organization is an artist on his
instrument and it can be said with
/ out fear of contradiction that the
Flonzaley quartet is the first organiza-
ton of its kind now in existence. 1t
plays with unanimity of tone and spir-
1t which cannot be surpassed. In its
manner of Interpretation IT displays an
individuality that is all it's own. One
moment IL displays a fire and passion
/ that could scarcely be surpassed by
a full orchestra, and then blends into
/ airy, delicate musical cadence that
carries the audience away from mater
ial things.
| The opening number, Mozart's
Quartet in B Flat Major" was IN
! questionably the most brilliant on the
! program. In the four movements of
] hnr he tot
ample opportunity to display its mar
velous ensemble work. The infinite
variety Of musical nuances brought out
IN this selection kept the audience
in a constant state of surprise and
expectancy. Each movement revealed
a new charm, brilliancy and original
ity and Interpretation that was de-
lightful. In response to a tremendous
ovation the quartet played Tschaikow
sky's "Andante Cantabile"
Beethoven's "Andante Cantabile con
Variazioni" from Opus IS, No. 5, was
the second number, and was followed
by a duet for violin and cello by
Messrs. Pochon and D'Archambeau.
The selection was one of Pochon's
own compositions, ''Duetto," and made
such a tremendous impression that the
two musicians were compelled to re-
spond with Gliere's "Berceuse," as an
encore.
The program was closed with a
group of three numbers, Glazounow's
I"Courante," Haydn's "Canzonetta,"
and Tschaikowsky's "ScherzO." At the
conclusion of the last number the au-
dience refused to leave the auditorium
and finally the musicians were forced
10 acknowledge the storm of applause
by an additional number Iaydn's
"Minuet" proved a fitting close to the
musical treat.
In the concert last-night Monsieur
Adolfo Betti, first violinist, played a
Stradivarius of priceless value. The
other instruments in the quartet are
also among the most valuable in ex-
istence Monsieur Alfred Pochon, who
pays second violin, has a Gaudagnini,
Monsieur Ugo Ara has TestoTi viola
and Monsieur Ivan D'ATchambeau
plays q Dechler violincello.
The quartet devotes its entire time
to the cultivation of chamber music.
The musicians were banded together a
few years ago by Z. J. COppet, a
wealthy art patron, to play at his villa
on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, and at
his New York residence The fame
of the "soirees" given for a favored
few spread rapidly and the adoption
Of a public career by the quartet led
in a surprisingly short time to a repu-
4tion extending throughout the must
cal world. The members of the quar-
tet have agreed mutually not 10 teach,
play in orchestra, or accept individual
engagements but to devote all their
time 10 the development of quartet
music