The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-28
zhBALlST CONCERT.


Efrem Zimbalist's recital Friday
afternoon At the Grand opera house
was one OF the musically significant.
events OF the season. not SO much be-
cause it accomplished a remarkable
display OF viOlinistic art, but because
its program assembled some Of the
masterpiecesTsof violin literature. great
and small, in effective seqence. and
All OF them were played In q way to
pr1ng out what they possessed of the
In all mustc-that is, emotional elo-
quence any symmetrical form.
Zimbaltst IL one of the youngest
vioHnista who has won such a meas
ure OF fame as belong to him. He
comes from abroad, loudly heralded
and bringing his laurel wreath, duty
Tree. Ysaye. Kubelik, Gilman. Mac
MILAN and the others, have had to
move over for this prodigy of musical
power and give him room among the
seats or the mighty. His playing set
forth the familiar trade marks, flaw
less tntonati0n, flexible bowling, a ia
Gle left hand. The writer recalls
having once read a story that told
allment, was attended by a famous
Russian doctor, who called the parents
attention to the boys ear, saying
that its shape indicated great mu-
seal genius, and by that advice,
Efrem was put to work at music The
most scrutinizing look available re-
veaied nothing astonishing about the
prophetic ear, to the unframed eye,
put the doctor was right about the
genius, whatever may have been the
source OF his conclusions.
Zimbalist has been exploited as the
champion of the new in musical COM
position. Many OF his concerts have
been made up entirely Of works from
the pens Of the latest writer's, but the
program for the Topeka audience
n mi 0F rxf ,Y-
with modest sprinkling of newer
compositions. The concert began with
q Handel sonata IL E major, in four
movements. The opening movement,
the adagio, was especially satisfying.
with its full. rich sorority and beauty
of tone coloring. A Debussy number,
LIE Petit Berger. was a number in one
OF the groups Of smaller pieces. De-
bussy's music is still believed by the
multitude to be shrouded in mystery,
yet the audience found the number ac-
corded a place on yesterdays program
one of the most tuneful and pleasing
selections of the afternoon. A few
seasons ago the patrons of the Friday
mat1nees. whose responses to the art
reflect the attitude of the cultured
amateur with sufficient fairness,
would have listened to it with doubt
and little wonder, which indicates
that the capacity to perceive melody
is somewhat a matter of routine.
Another exceptionally lovely num-
Der was in the Russian-a scherzo
composition by Tschaikowsky. part
of 1t contained a melting theme, so
distinctly traceable as almost to sug-
gest words to fit it, while the Russian
coloring is deeply ingrained in the
work. Bach has exhausted the DOS
sibilities of this style of contrapunctal
variations, and the artist yesterday
brought to the presentation OF the
work resources that represent a high
standard of virtuosity and a command
of tOna1 beauty and variety that in
| musical consciousness. An aria by
GOldmark was revived, in tone that
was fresh. vital and sympathetic.
Tambourtn ChinOtS, by Fritz Kreisler,
Won the popular approval. Kreisler is
something OF an idol to Topeka music
lovers. He played here last season,
and the circumstances of his being now
on the firing line of the Austrian army.
and perhaps In mortal danger while his
music Is being played in places Of peace,
helps to put a halo around his head
| The romantic touch was given by
the closing number, q Faust Fantasia,
by Gounod. arranged by Wieniawsky.
| The applause that followed every group
called for the playing of an encore
however, the response was not given in
every case. After the Bach number,
Zimbalfst came before the audience and
a. AHoWieuSeQ tnelr enthusiasm with
courtesy. but he left his violin in the
wings. Continued applause brought him
out again and again, but his smile
sounded like I'VE do not give two con-
certs for the price Of one" However.
ne did play three encore numbers which
would seem to be sufficiently gen.
erous.
Mr.. S. Chotzinoff. the accompanies.
was one Of the ablest men Of his pro-
fesSlOn that has Travelled with anv a r.
lst IN Topeka. His playing, while he
did no solo work. was noticeablv ami
mated and sympathetic.