Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-03-11
MI | C
z ASCHA HEIFETZ, wonder Vi

ASCHAt HElt r Z, wonder vi
Il olinist, came to the Brandes
y theater Monday evening. and
spoke through the medium of his in
strument in the purest diction of
music, in tones so lovely and of
thoughts so fine that a great audi
ence came and listened to him in a
vital stiffness.
This exceptional musical treat was
brought to the people of Omaha by
the Tuesday Musical club, who well
deserve congratulations for the
undertaking. The fame of this
phenomenal young man had spread
before him and not only was the en-
tire seating capacity of the theater
sold out, but the complete stage was
filled with seats, and several rows
of standees were gathered at the
back, intent upon hearing the mes
sage of his bow. The message was
there, and there was nothing to in
terfere with the hearing of it.
Mr.. Heifetz is fine looking young
man with clear cut features and
sensitive mouth. He is unassuming,
almost impressive in bearing, and in
his playing. there are no manner
isms He simply stands before the
audience and plays. and lets the mu-
sic speak for itself. Through his
skill and artistry, it has ample OPP
portunity to speak. He seems to
have all the gifts of the gods, sup
plemented by all the development
and training of mortals. He has
balance and perspective, apprecia-
ton and absolute mastery of the
power of transmitting the manifold
beauties of the music to his auditors.
He is a great artist, of the kind one
wants to hear again and again, so
cnthralling are his interpretations. .
Mr.. Heifetz opened his program
of Monday evening with a Handel
Sonata, No. w in D major. This
he played in strict rhythm that was
joy rather than a monotony, and
with a vividness of dynamics, which
made one hear between the notes,
and realize how unsteady rich these
old masterpieces are. The Lar
ghetto, especially, under Mr.. Heifetz
wand, was a gem. The Wieniawski
Concerto, the big piece of the even
ing, was given with an interpreta-
tive skill and technical ease that il
lumined this we'll known old number
with a veritable radiance. His tenn
pos, his dashing runs, tremendous
climaxes and iridescent trills, car
ried the listeners with him to the
very last note. The brilliancy of
the closing climax of the first move
ment, the poetry of the Romanza
and the marvellous sweep of the
finale are things to be long remem-
bered.
The ave Maria" by Schubert
Wilhelmj, was notable for the I'M
usual spirituality of it, the Moe
turne in E minor" Chopin-Auer, was
a new and rare treasure both for it.
self and its Interpretation. and the
Chorus of Dervishes," Beethoven
Auer, was technical feat of amaz-
ing skill, and clever musical char
acterization.
"On Wings of Song" was charm
ing transcription of the lovely song;
by Mendelssohn. the exquisite mel
ody being Introduced on the beau
tiful toned G string, then developed
upon the higher strings in thirds.
octaves and tenths. Personally we
hated to spare him the time for the
Dance of the COLLINS" by Bazzini,
but it contrasted we'll with the fore
going number, and he played it for
all its technical display with a scin
tillating daintiness and at such a
whirlwind speed that we almost for
gave him. Encores were numerous,
but theY were hard won. the ser