Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-22
JOSEF HOFFMAN, GIVES
GREAT PERFORMANCE
Matchless Artistry Shown in His
Playing of List Concerto
With the Orchestra

one of the worlds greatest soloists, one
of the finest of all symphonies and what is
certainly BerlioZ's best overture. if not in
deed his best orchestral work, made up the
program of the Philadelphia Orchestra at its
concert at the Academy of Music yesterday
afternoon. The inevitable result was one of
the most enjoyable concerts of the year.
Josef Hofmann, in the Liszt concerto in
L fiat for piano and orchestra, was the hero
of the concert Never has Mr.. Hofmann
played better than he did yesterday. Every
quality that goes to make the perfect artist
he had in full measure His rhythmic sense,
in which he is not surpassed if he is equaled
by any man now on the concert PLATFORM
his tone, powerful or delicate as occasion
demanded, and yet always full OF color MS
immense technique, and most OF all MS per-
feet artistry in Interpretation, made ms rem
dition of the Liszt concerto one long 10 DC
remembered.
He never plays for effect and his whole
attitude toward the composition ana toWaru
the audience in that he is. the medium
through whom the composers ideas are
being expressed, injecting his own musical
personality to the exact point Where lie can
give a thoroughly individual reading and YET
never making the concerto a means OF sell
exploitation. Such is the artistry OF JOSEF
Hofmann, and in his hands the Liszt III
angle" concerto was given such perform
ance as it is not often the privilege of any
audience to hear The orchestral accompani-
ment was discreet and sympathetic.
The overture which opened the concert was
the "Carneval Roman" of BerlioZ, work
of much more melodic and harmonic value
dramatically than Berlioz usually wrote
while retaining all the gorgeous orchestra-
ton of which he was so consummate mas
ter The work was played with great spirit
by the orchestra.
The symphony came last on the program,
being placed after the concerto 1t was the
exquisite No. 2 of Brahms. i'll d major, a
work full of the most delicate and yet pro-
found sentiment and of great melodic beauty !;
in short, one of the best orchestral works
that has ever been composed. Like the over
ture. it was splendidly performed, both in
terpretation and performance being thor
oughly sympathetic and in full keeping with
the majestic but yet lovely character of the
work. O.
Mr. Stokowski was taken i'll ia the morn
ing and Thaddeus Rich, concertmeister OF
the Orchestra, conducted in his place. Too
much credit cannot be given Mr.. Rich for
his excellent work He was not notified until
shortly before noon that it would be neces-
sary for him to lead, and therefore he was
Obliged to conduct the difficult and intricate
accompaniment to the concerto and read a
symphony requiring great musical feeling
and insight (for there are many places in
which the characteristic orchestration of
Brahms will become muddy If not intelli-
gently directed) with virtually no prepara-
ton He performed his difficult task ex-
ceedingy well and thus achieved the unique
distinction of appearing as soloist and con-
ductor at two successive concerts.