The sun., 1918-10-28
GUIOMAR NOVAES
TRIUMPHS In CHOPIN
Brazilian Pianist Gives Bril-
liant Delivery of Introspec-
tive "Ballade."
BEETHOVEN WORK Is FINE
Fantasia SOnata's Irregular
Form Ignored in Clear Ex-
position of Moods.

Guiomar Novaes. the distinguished
young BraSivan pianist. gave her first
recital Of the present season in Aeolisn
Hall yesterday afternoon. The pro-
gramrns was compact and we'll chosen
1t consisted OF Beethoven's sonata in Il
fiat. opus 81. No / (of which opus No 2
Is the mollycoddied "aIoonlight"), Schu-
mann's "Fantasiestuecke." Chopin's G
minor ballade and Paderewskrs noe
turne and "Cracovienne Fantss.ique"
In the threshold we may pause 10
wonder at some translating. 1t seems
imperative to some letter perfect pa triots
that not even Il German title shall Of
fend the American eye, But why per-
vert "Fantasiestuecke' by Fantastic
piecss," when the meaning Of "Fanta sic"
Is fancy. Imagination or caprice, and Il
IL obvious that Schumann had all three
meanings In mind? II gratines a quite
human feeling TO see anything German
adequately spoiled, hut Schumann's
whimsical conceptions. whimsical even
In the childlike play OF their poetry. are
absolutely human and not German In
their essence, and should be CORE city
introduced.
Curiously enough the performance OF
these little excursions into the realm
Of wonderland was the least commend
able OF Miss Novaess series Few
musicians. either pianists or conductor,
enter into the heart OF schumann's
maginetlon. even that which he reveals
In these early works. esteemed by him
self. however, az among his best piano
compositions. Miss Novaes played them
4 LEI all htnR ..lA
poet. She was not much happier Ia her
reading of The Prophet Bird" with
which she supplemented them, although
the exquisite character OF her touch and
rhythm was blrdliks In itself But one
ftutter does not make n prophet
Beethoven Reading Is BeautifuI.
There is more satisfaction in con-
siderinE her performance of the Beetho-
ven sonata. Piano students and lovers
of piano music remember that Beethoven
labelled It quasi una fantasia" This
was a plea of confession and avoidance.
for the composition Is assuredly not a
sonata Mt all except In the sense of an
tque usage that anything written for an
instrument 10 sonata" (sounded) and
not "esntsts" tsunD. But that usage
died away back In the seventeenth CEN
fury. Schumann would have called the
work Fantasia" without the quasi"
as unhesitatingly as he named his opus
II. the great G major.
Miss Novaes was perfectly in sym
pnthy with the real nature OF the music
She did not puxsle herself. as Elterlein.
Marx and other wise men did. In strug-
Cling to account for it's irreguls rit; Of
form. but just honestly played its con-
trasefng melodies Is she found them,
IN sha ola ii, 4,
changing and challenging moods. Her
reading was beautiful in that II eagerly
sought for Beethoven's ''me,os" In every
measure, that II was sane. simple and
poised in artistic balance and that it dis
closed itself In bewitching series Of
tonal effects.
The high water mark OF the recital,
however. was the delivery of the Chopin
ballade. Here arises temptation to dwell
on Miss NOvaeSs mechanical equipment.
for in such composition her. splendid
command OF tone and her finger work,
ranging from the power of n thunder
7 storm 20 the sparkling crispness Of n
frosty morning. are factors in the ac-
complishment OF such result as only a
truly great master OF the pihno eau
present
Deep Tone without violence.
Under the fingers of this gifted young
woman depth OF tone seems bottomIes 81.
Whether she strikes out massive phra Sc :
| In grandlose utterance or 1etrhys
Chopin's most tender condolences in the
half heard breathing OF whispered
caress. she never gives the impression OF
sheer force or violent contact Ter VEL
vet fingers plunge down into the cool
depths of the keys as swimmers alto the
heart OF sunlit sea, and around them
all 10 moist, lucent. radiant The piano
wooed. not assaulted, pours out for her
it's treasures Of sound. 1t sustains tones
ma rveilousy. II sings like an organ.
Clarity always goes hand in hand with
| tonal outpourings In the playing OF Miss
| NovRes Hence, II you grant that for
some inexplieable reason this ballade,
| which Is admitted to be one OF the com
positions most intimately personal and
interpretive among Chopins creations.
! revealed itsssecrets TO this young player
or at any rate stirred her to real and
deep emotion-you are ready to bow be-
! fore such performance of II as she gave
! yesterday and declare that 1t was worthy
OF the work
Pachmann, who had no power. used
to play the stupendous and stormy
finale piano much to the displeasure OF
Mr.. Huneker, who has immortaiized the
reading In his Chopin, the Man and
His Music" At any rate he heard a
different reading yesterday. one, indeed.
which in its range OF tonal beauties and
its immense virility only Paderewski OF
: Hoffman, could have equalled. And per-
haps that Is enough for to-day about a
| little Girl from Brazil