Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-02
ADJUSTMENTS
POWELL THRILLS HrAREHs
WITH QUALITY OF MS

AS though to mark the close Of q
season already notable for many rcu-
SONS. John Powell returned 10 Eich.
mond last night. after what might be
termed a public absence of more than
Two years. and supplied a climax to the
musical year by 4 recital that amazed
even those who had followed his career
with admiration from the days when
he had to jump his octaves to the time
when he first became a considerab bic
inquire among the worlds artists
When John Powell played here -
little moro than two years ago. at tho
hcadcmH OF Music, h" had become !.
tine artist. AS he played last night. he
was a great artist. TWO years ago he
had acquired restraint which IT had
been feared he lacked. Always he had
been virtuoSo. always he had had
large. almost AN inexhaustihlc. tcchni-
cal equipment. But then he had i'm
posed Il check OIL the cmotionalism that
is n certain part Of tho artist. and had
rounded his art until i, expressed him
self without eNaEgeration. II va. ap-
parent even then that only "a broaden
ing of the man and of the artist WAS
left to he dcSircdol that technical
skill. music!anship and even the poetic
instinct could give TO his stature had
been given
Last night It seemed that nothing
had been omitted from Tie technical.
mental or spiritual development %; the
man and artist, and the result was
such nG--interpretativc and crea-
tive--as betokcns the genius. the man
touched with the divine spark II had
seemed impossible that his mere vir-
iuosty could be increased. yet he
played the wcll-nigh Impossible Don
Giovanni Fastasa' at :, tempo aud with
display OF Incredible icchuic that
startled and thrilled his audience. II
had not seemed likely that he could
play Eccthovcns Sonata Appassionata"
with more OF dignity and beauty 1han
used 20 distinguish his performance OF
il. yet he played it with such breadth
and nobility that its splendid con-
t..as;s and rich colorS sounded and
Elowed the more. II had not seemed
possible that he could play Chopin moro
cNquiSitely than he had played II be-
fore. yet the three Chopin pieces he
played last night were made wondrou.
b. the magic OF his poetry ia he
played the C-sharp mian: l:iudc. /;
appealed more deeply to tho irasina-
ton than any program piece tina; ind"
place on programs. while the Schumann
Roma nee, which he gave sor encore.
Was mad" thing Of aching beauty.
Two piccer II Macpowcll and :wo
Of Daniel GreEory Mason were grouped
with Mr.. 'o~clrs own "Circassium
Beauty" and "Eanio-pi:kar" AL form
ing IL delightful number. The "Eanjo-
Picker" In particular. won deserves
Iteration troc, program makers.
since IL is notable example OF the
utilization OF foil. song themes in
lighter American music. ny this il not
meant the Dixie" strains. but several
others peculiar To the South. Dvcrak's
"Symphony From the New World"
suggests s!mila: themes, but /. is
maintained that IL docs not actually
employ them. Mr.. lowell has shown
what he can do or a minor scale. for
what with Indian idiony.. may he the
real American music. II would be
more than inter, sting to hear an OK
tended composition from him along
that line.
For the rest. Il is not necessary to
dwell OH Mr.. Powells s,upendnus tech
mic lingering. pedalinE. sheer ia
cility. "cicanne"S.' accuracy, faultless
rhythmic sense a,id all the rest Of the
pianisrs more Or less mechanical ac-
conference.-the has il all But all
that Inc has had for Il good many years.
Young as he IL. New lie has what is
beneath and aboTc, is deeper and
higher. what all the tcchnic in ALI tho
studios cannot create. lie has the
artists inspired power 10 subordinate
virtuosity. to make j, means 10 q
greater end and to enkindle his hearers
with tho sacred fire within him.
Mir. Powell appeared under the aus
picts OF the Virginia Randolph Elicit
tlumnae Association.