Connecticut western news., 1915-02-18
GABRILOWITSCH IN NORFOLK
Mrs. H. H. Bridgman's Annual Lincoln
 Memorial Concert.

Memorial Concert.
 To lovers of music in its highest es- tate. the Lincoln Day concert at Nor folk furnished so much of delight, and the playing of Gabrilowitsch was so magnetic, that the hearers were left without any of the mental and physi- cai strain usually produced by giv- ing the grave attention necessary to be kept on a musical performance of the kind, and instead the enthusiastic audi ence was clamoring tor more. This ill itself is said to be the recognized proof of the ability of an artist. and shows a we'll chosen and we'll balanced pro- gram, for which, ill this case, Mrs. Bridgman is entitled to all of the credit, as she carefully selects each number, and personally attends to every detail Every number was full of compelling interest. The playing of the great pianist seems not to be gov erned by artistic restraint; he plays with great abandon. The idea of his technical equipment did not occur to one while listening to his playing. Technique is indispensable but at the same time is only ladder to an in accessible height. It is not the aim and end of piano playing, but only the means to attain the end. Few per formers, however are able to combine such brilliant technique with such variety of tone quality and intellectual force and power of translating the poetic images in his mind into tone; oil in ic than great explanation of the rhythmic things that are translated through the brain of man; picture of varied hues conveying its message to the soul through the ear.
 Gabrilowitsch' rendering of the Sonata by Glazounow, was performed as only a Russian could perform a selectio which would constantly re- mind him of the home land, and the feeling he displayed in the plaintive and in the impassioned parts, conveyed the artists s mood to his auditors. The difficulties presented to the interpreter in this composition are great because of the heavy and intricate harmOnizing. which seems at times to completely cover or efface the themes, especially in the allegro movement. Gabrilo- witsch skillfully kept the harmony down, and wove a perfect union be tween the melody and its contrapuntal under structure.
 The velvety touch and the crystal clarity with which he gave the Chopin numbers entranced the audience. His command over all shades of tone from pianissimo to fortissimo, his unexcelled sustained tones and his grand crescendo in the Prelude in D flat major, wildly portrayed the different moods of the tone-poet, as Chopin is sometimes called, in which musical content and beautiful form are combined.
 The last number on the program was composed of a varying range of styles from the British Folk music to the brilliant Moskowski Etude, all of which elicited vehement and insistent applause.
 The singer of the afternoon, Miss Adelaide Fischer, sang with sweetness and finished expression that proved a delight to the enthused listeners. She was inexpressibly enjoyed for the beauty of her artistic phrasing and her perfect diction, the latter unspoiled by foreign training. Her voice is espec- ially adapted to the songs she sang, and she gave them with pleasing grace. Her accompanist, Alexander Rihm, played with admirable sympathy.
 AS is always the case at the concerts held in this imposing old church editice, the floral decorations were in exquisite taste. A fine bust of Lincoln stood on the pulpit surrounded by flowers, and the banking back of the pulpit was most effective.
 At the conclusion of the concert the Misses Eldridge, with MT. and Mrs. Bridgman, gave an informal reception at their beautiful home, when the in vited guests were permitted to meet the artists. The we'll known hospitality of these entertainers makes comment unnecessary. J. B. R.