The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-06
4 GREAT RECITAL
BY JOSEF HOFFMAN,
His Programme Arranged With
Fine Taste and Musical
Judgment.
AMAZING COLOR VARIETY
Interpretation Of Lofty Dignity
United With Much Poetic
Imagination.

Josef IIofmann. tho great pianist. gave
his ANAL recital of the season at Carnegie
Hall on Saturday afternoon. The pro-
grammc was planned most symmetrically,
each OF It's three groups having distinctive
character. and the progress in style being
continuous. The concert began with Bee
,hoven's sonata in ID minor. opus 81. No. 2.
which was followed by the rondo. all about
a los, penny Sgambati's transcription of
one Of Gluck's "Orfeo'' melodies and
saint Saens's arrangement of Beethoven's
Chorus of Dervishes'' completed the
opening group. For an encore number
the pianist gave Beethoven bagateiie
The second group was all Chopin. the
barcarole, F major nocturne. L nat valse
and + minor fantasia. The encores were
another valse and a mazourka. The third
group comprised what might nave BEEN
called a representation OF ''pianists have
known" Mr. Hoffman, played his own
"Berceuse" and his master Rubinstein's
dazzling r minor scherzo. Then with
Characteristic graciousness he gave Mr.
paderewskis "Legende' and finished his
list with MosZkowskfs Caprice Espa-
vnole." The audience refused to go away
and the pianist had to play half a
dozen encore numbers. finishing with
Mendelssohns "Spinnerlied."
Great Technical Display.
II would be idle to attempt to do COM
plete justice in newspaper review to
such an exhibition Of the pianists art as
Mr.. Holman gave. The instrument can
not be played better. Technically the dis
play was stupendous. Such agility. indie
pendence and strength of finger are
amazing. such bewildering variety Of
tonal spleudors leaves the nearer in a
state of enchantment. Such reposeful
mastery OF style and such conviction as
Mr.. Ilofmann makes of untouched stores
OF skill and power make the auditor
reverent.
But there are still tho musicianship
and the imaginative qualities to be con-
sdered. a virtuoso who can sweep the
KEYBOARD with unerring touch, who can
introduce AN infinite range of nuances
into every passage no matter whether of
scales or more complicated construction.
Hoffman, never forgets to interpret sane!y.
Intellectually and with that large sympa-
thy which shuns alike austerity and senti-
mentality A beautiful. communicative
humanity speaks through all his playing.
and when he has to deliver a passage
initiative OF recitative. as in the Bee
thoven sonata, and again in the Chopin
barcarole. he transforms the piano into
living actor singing from the stage.
The Beethoven sonata was beautifully
played throughout. with dignity OF
style and n warmth Of poetic feeling
= which placed the audience in a mood to
be much stirred by all that followed Fa-
miliar as II is. the rondo gained new de-
lights from the exquisite treatment II re-
celved at the hands of the artist The pure
lines and classic atmosphere OF Gluck' s
Elyslan music were found with sure
musical instinct. The Saint-Saens ar
rangement was hurled into the air with
a brilliant and sonorous utterance 1t
was a triumphant combination Of vrtuoso
playing with musical understanding.
Interpretation Of Chopin.
Hofmanns playing of Chopin is we'll
known 10 local music lovers, and it can
he said that IL does not satisfy those who
wish always TO be convinced that the
Polish composer was a sick man In art.
Nawkishness is no part OF Hofmann s
makeup. and he plays Chopin like "a
man. But he plays him also like a poet,
and those who cherish health in music
and recognize II i'm the higher concep.
lions of Chopin are grateful TO HOFFMAN,
Tor the manner in which he interprets the
music OF his immortal countryman.
There is no need TO speak in detail
~ the flaming performance Of the Rubin
stein scherzo or the admirable delivery
~ tho other pieces Let this brief record
close with the safe statement that this
was one OF the most beautiful and satisfy
.rg piano recitas heard In this town within
the memory of THE SUNS reviewer.