The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-02
KRE|SLER IS GIVEN
 GREAT RECEPTION !. BY LARGE AUDIENCE
Distinctive Charm to Artis- try of Renowned Violin ist Is SOulfulness and
 Beauty of Expression

Another evidence of Birmingham ap p1eciation for the best in musical ar was found in the large and enthusiastic audience that greeter Fritz Kreser a the Jefferson last night. The house wa. filled and various classes of society were repr esented, but ardent music lovers all judging from the rapt attention whicf the world renowned volinist received.
 Kreiser has a grave face, an engaging stage presence, and reposeful air tha suggests at once reserve force, poetic imagination and high breeding
 This was the programme.
 1 (a) Sonata in A major, Handel (b) Fugue in A major, Tartini.
 ?. Concerto in E minor, Mendelssohn (a) Allegro motto appasslonato (b) An. dante; Co Allegretto non troppo! Allegro motto vivace.
 3. (a) Larghetto lamentoso, Godowsly (b) Rondino Con theme by Beethoven Kreisler song without words, Mendels- Mazurka, Chopin; (e) Spanish serenade Chaminad de- Kreisler.
 (a) Indian Lament. Dvorak- kreisler; (b) Viennese popular song, Arr. by Kreisler. CThe old refrain); Co Spanish dance, Granados-k kreiser; (d) Caprice Viennois, Kreisler.
 If other famous violinists play with more verve, Kreisler is never lacking in temperament or warmth of tone or in dazzling passage work. His technic is without a flaw and in grace of style and the purity and beauty of his harmonies Ie,i iey rhov rr,ifL ID ,t,a ( gives distinctive charm to his artistry is soulfulness. He interprets the old classics such as the Handel Sonata and the more modern classics such as the Mendelssohn concerto with rare intellectual grasp, but better still, he possesses a spiritual insight which makes the most familiar composition seem a revelation He plays from the heart. It would be difficult to conceive of more elegant reading of the Sonata than Kreisler gave it and his rendition of the Concerto Vas splen- did triumph. No larger work written for the violin is more violinistic. It lies well, as the saying goes, for the king of instruments and nothing in violin literature is more grateful for the per- former. The Andante, with it's appeal and melody. seems so easy and yet only a master can play it as it was intended to be played. Kreisler's marvellous per- formance of the entire Concerto will be long remembered here as an achieve ment of surpass ssing genius. For an en- core after that number Kreisler played a lovely old French folk song-"La Pre- cieuse," by Coupeire.
 The audience was captuated by the groups of short pieces and for encores Kreisler repeated two of them at the close of the programme prolonged ap- plaused brought the great master to the footllgbts again and to the joy of every body he played his Viennese compost ton known as ''Liebesfreud No. 1'' That and his popular and soul-melting "caprice' given as the last number on the bill, were among the notable gems of the evening.
 Near the close of the concert Fred erick Gunster came out on the stage and in a few felicitous remarks told of Kreis- ler's charitable work in behalf of 15,0OO suffering musicians in Vienna, and an- nounced that the violinists pictures with autograph attached would be sold for $1 apiece and the money turned in to the relief fund, just as a large part of Kreis- ler's earnings were contributed to this fund.
 Kreisler owns many violins of priceless value. The one used last night was a Guarnarius.