The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-12
Lhevinne is Delight
to Crowded House

What Keats IL to poets. Josef
Lhevinne Is to pianists. Students OF
the keyboard who were In the aud
fence which strained the capacity OF
the Church of Our Father, Tuesday
evening, were alled with generous
despair Contrasting their own labor
ed performance, arduously improved
by painful study, with that OF the Rus
sian whose fluent fingers wrought per
feet tone without apparent effort, they
were forced into feeling OF i'm
potence, for whose pain an irresistible
admiration was the relief.
Lhevinne is one who must read
over and over again, in reviews OF his
concerts, that criticism was disarm
ed meaning that the blunt and twist
ed spear with which writer's hammer
without penetrating the conceit OF
musicians has been laid aside, and q
bottle of toilet water used in its stead
The performers prefer the perfume, as
q rule: there are few to whom the
scent is repulsiye. But 10 sprinkle
l.heyinne with fragrant adjectives is
TO misunderstood him.
The Russian pianist has made him
self n transparent medium for the
conveyance OF musical thought. He
has no prominent mannerisms; the
listener finds himself following the
music without watching the player.
Lhevinne's technique hides itself In
the work OF the composer. The aud
fence does not think: Il am listening
to Lhevinne;" IL says 10 itself: II am
hearing Beethoven" That is the SUI
preme test OF an interpreter. Lhevinne
is one OF the handful OF modern
musicians who meet II.
When one looks for the technique,
il is discovered 10 be colossal. Feet
and hands perfectly at the behest OF
a swift brain. Such use OF the pedals
has seldom-never, to take n short
risk been seen in Detroit Rapidly
and clarity are together In Ihevinnes
playing. His touch at one moment IL
the stroke OF a hammer; at the next,
the falling of snowfiakes He Is able
to measure the force OF his fingers
by fractions OF the least measurement
OF strength.
To return 10 the program. Ehevinne
played Back-Liszt fantasia and fugue
in G minor in a manner 70 bring honor
TO the Oiu. master VI COHblTuCllOH.
Beethoven's sonata, opus 81, with its
hint OF a program goodbye, absence,
return-was a triumph of interpreta-
mented an organist and composer OF
high ideals, who heard Il with a rap
ture. Brahms variations on a theme
OF Pagaunl was the show piece OF the
evening. l4hevinne bent his technique
to its every phase OF feeling. In four
Chopin compositions he continued 70
astonish his hearers with new beau
ties. Schumann's dazzling Eel Con-
trabandista" and Balakireff's isle
mey' brought the program TO a eli
max. No one has demonstrated the
worth OF the New Russian music bet
ter. Following its new custom, the
audience rose to 20 home and stayed
TO applaud; and after considerable
hesitation, for the program had IA
tigued him. Lhevinne played an en-
core.
II was the seventh concert OF Mr..
Devoe's Philharmonic series, and was
designed for subscribers TO the course.
A few others were able TO find room
In the hall: but hundreds who wanted
70 hear T.hevinne had 10 forego that
pleasure. They will never realize what
they missed; there is cold comfort IN
| the thought. w. K. KELSEY.