The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-02-26
Recital by Famous Pianist
at Orpheum Theatre in
Racine Attracts Crowds
of Music Lovers.
SOPRANO ON The PROGRAM
Tecktonius Is Assisted by Miss Louise
Boedtker, Dramatic Soprano
Plays Own Compost
lions.
By Wesley LaViolette.

DY w 6S4Sy Lid 1OlSGtOs
Leo Tecktonius, a pianist who has
many friends and admirers here in Ke-
nosha, offered a recital at the Racine
Orpheum Theatre last evening to
moderate sized audience which contain
ed number of local people. For some
years Mr.. Tecktonius has made his resi-
dence in Europe, and for the past FIVE
years he has lived in Paris where he is
quite popular in the fashionable salons.
His program last night was a decid-
edly popular one and did not reveal a
breadth and catholic taste such as one
generally expects from AN artist of his
calibre and musicianship. He is the
possessor of a technique as big as he
is himself. It knows no technical diff
fculties and is handled with great ease
and skill At times one feels that the
manner in which he achieves his ease,
freedom, and effects is rather patent
which robs it of some of its supremacy.
He plays with such complete relaxation
that one feels that he could do any
thing with perfect ease, and one wished
that he had played some numbers which
would have made heavier demands on
his digital skill.
The most interesting part of his pro-
gram was the first group in which he
offered six modern preludes; one by
Mcdowell ,one by himself, two by
Debussy, and one each by Rachmani-
noff and Grieg. Save for the familiar
Russian one in C7sharp minor, none of
them are very threadbare from doing
overtime in the concert halls. Though
he disagrees with the composer i think
/ really prefer Rachmanioff own in
depreciation of number which has
gone far in establishing his popularity
as a composer and pianist. Besides, he
wrote it, and should know. All the
other numbers were splendidly done
and with adequate conception Of
their import he brought their real beau
ty out clearly.
Forceful interpreter Of Beethoven.
One of the best interpretations on the
program was that given to the famous
Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven. 1t
was given with much fire and abandon
and brilliancy. In the Adagio Canta-
bile, which is one Of the most beautiful
themes ever penned, the pianist played
with real emotional meaning and made
fine impression. In the heavenly
"Evening Piece by Schumann he
brought out every phrase and every
note and wove beautiful web of tonal
color and melodic lines -Four of his
own compositions had places on the pro-
gram. They are all effective concert
pieces of the salon genre.
Miss Louise Boedtker, dramatic
soprano, offered the "Pleurez, Pleurez,
Mes Yeux" aira from Massenet's Gle
Cid" and also group of songs by
Foudrain, Fogel and d-Stephens.
Her tone emission suffers considerably
from restriction and lack Of ease in
production. There was but little artis-
tic conception, and without a program
I would have had difficulty in telling
whether she was singing in French or
English, and I can get along fairly
well in either.
In the closing group Mr.. Tecktonius
played the popular Louisiana by the
Englishman, Cyril Scott; the antique
Menuet" of Paderewski; Barca-
role by Rubinstein, and the Tremolo
Grand Etude de Concert by Gottschalk.
The latter style of empty display pieces
was popular in the day it was written
and the pianist made the most of it's
tawdry values, but why waste a pro-
digious technique on such questionable
wares when there are SO many others
which today serve the same purpose and
with more raison d 'etre.
He was well and very cordially re-
ceived. With his striking and hand
some physique, with big singing tone
that is grounded on an adequate and
complete technique he is delightful
pianist to hear.