Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-16
TOSCHA SEIDEL IN
VIOLIN RECITAL
Young Russian Player Delights
Large Audience With an
Exacting Program

Toscha seidel, who appeared as soloist
with the Philadelphia Orchestra early in the
present season. gave his first violin recital in
this city last evening in the Metropolitan
Opera House before large. discriminating
and at times wildly enthusiastic audience.
Mr.. Seidel, who is one Of the best products
of the tutorship of Leopold Auer. gave
diverse and exacting program. His princi-
pal numbers were the Devils Trill of Tartini
and the ID minor concerto of Wieniawsli
although the Ziegunerweisen of Sarasate
which appeared on the program in the hum
BILE role of second ip group, might well be
cassed with the two already mentioned. He
could not have possibly made better choice
of compositions purely violinstc written
by composers who understood more minutely
the resources and limitations of the nstru
ment than the three which he selected. Incl
dentally the soloist displayed an unusual
skill and discrimination as a program maker.
To analy2e the program in detail would be
futile and of interest only to those who are
technically familiar with the numbers
played. Suffice 1t to say in this respect that
Mr.. Sedel displayed variety and fluency
of technique that was little short of astound-
ing The tremendously difficult left-hand
work of tho Tartini number. the accuracy
of intonation in the higher positions Of the
concerto and the gypsy airs the octave work
Zone seldom hears them played perfectly
in tune), the harmonies of the latter COM
position and the staccato and spiccato bow
ing demanded both by Wienawski and Sara
safe we're marvels of execution and of per-
feet violin playing The very difficult cad,nza
OF the Devils Trill, composed by Mr. Auer
and dedicated TO Mr.. Seidel, was beautifully
performed. 1t is faithful to the text in note.
but. il must be confessed, is somewhat III od-
crn in spirit for n work as aged in musical
thought as Tartinis famous composition,
Two Philadelphia composers were repre-
sented on Mr. Sedels program. These were
Frederick Hahn, whose well-written and
meodous mnuet was first of the third group,
and Joel Belov. whose Rapelle-To occupied
the same position in the fourth group. Both
are excellent compositions well written for
the violin, and both received the applause
from the audience that their merit deserved.
| spontaneous tribute from the audience
occurred during the performance of the
| Gypsy Airs of Sarasate, which. all in all.
| must be considered as the best work of the
| evening Toward the close of this compost
| tion is 4 passage of hideous difficulty for
| left hand piz2icato nterspersed with single
| notes played with the bow, all in very rapid
| tempo. As the notes came from the instru-
| ment, clear as crystal, the audience broke
| into spontaneous applause, although there is
! no pause in the music. It had apparently, no
effect on the pose Of the sooist
| Toscha Sedel stands today as one of the
worlds greatest violin players His style is
| inpassioned rather than restrained, but car
! ries with it the impression of sincerity and
| not of intentional sensationalism. He natu-
| rally has the enthusiasm of youth The is
| not yet twenty years of age) and is there
| fore inclined toward occasional eXaggeratons
| and TO an excessive use of tho portamento.
| especially at the close of phrases, but these
are matters which time will doubtless over
! come. lie has now all the mechanical equip
| ment that any artist will ever need what
maturity will bring toward complete inter-
pretative artistry rests entirely with himself.