New-York tribune., 1920-12-14
Ernest Hulchison
Gives a Masterly
pianoforte Recital
\ Deep Insight and Alice
iionate Devotion, Paired
With Ample Capacity in
His Splendid Playing
By II. f. krehbiel

Mastery pianoforte playing. was
heard IN Aeoian Hall last night-nct
merely display OF virtuosity in the
ordinary sense. but fine musicians
Interpretation of fine music, some Of it
supremely great music, IN which un-
aerstanding. deep insight and affection
tie devotion were paired with ample
eapacity to give it such convincing ex-
preston as carried il home to the con-
.ciousneSs and hearts Of the hearers.
The aver WAS Ernest HNtc esoa. MS
program was as far from the ordinary
ut Of recital programs as his play ing
vas from the immature performances
# the majority OF young men and
women who have recently obeyed Che
call not to make music, but to give
public recitals.
Mr. Hutcheson began with four Of
Susoni's transcripticHs OF Bach 5
peludes for the org. on hymn-tunes
Of the German Reformed Church. Per
aaps that description is a little vague,
IS. at least one &c the hymns has be
come the common possession of the
Protestant Church in all lands. 1t was
hat known in English hymnals as
-'Sleepers, Wake, a Voice Is Calling"
The other three were less familiar.
Mr.. Hutcheson grouped them so as
o produce a gra wing sense of con-
-rast, and played them al so as to
make the artistic purpose of the COM
poser plain, bringing the fundamental
melodies into prominence and twlning
the arabesQues of ornamental poly
Dhony around them to heighten their
character. Ilc reached a splendid
altitude in vcritabe tour de force in
the final prelude on "Freut each Ihr
-. l,.t,-
IS tie program had iN.
Then came Beethoven's sonata in C
minor, Op III, the climax of the even
rigs delights and worthy contribu-
tion to this festival week. A musi-
clans sonata it is. which dscourses
-ranstigured music rather than thee
cha rms of pianofortc tone. The work
is inconceivahle in any instrumental
language other than that Of The piano.
forte but there is no pianofo COM
position so Indifferent to the effects
which have been cultivated by specific
ally pianoforte composers from the be-
ginning.
Music musical thought and its logi-
cal exposition and development for the
ends of beautiful art. is It's be-all and
end all and in his proclamation, espee-
cially in the ariet'a Beethoven be-
comes seer. as truly siigured. in
the spirit. that Is. as John was on
Patmos. Mr.. Iutchcson played the
sonata so as to make his hearers re-
alize that truth last night. and there
fore he was master musician, not q
pianoforte virtuoso, although what he
achieved from d technical point could
only have been achieved by superbly
equipped virtuoso.
After the sonata he played LISTS
Specialize" and ballad in minor
and transcriptions by himself Of q bur
lesque in G minor and caprice in B
fat by Scarlatti the scherzo from
Icndelsschn's music to "A Midsummer
Nights Dream and Wagner's ride
Of the Valkyrie'
Those who expected something un-
usual in the performance of LA Fcrza
del Destino" at the metropolitan Opera
House last night were di appointed.
Mr. Caruso SANG as effectively as is
his wont, neither striving to make
an exhibition Of heroics nor to play for
sympathy by an exhibition Of especial
care. More than that, by deprccatorv
gesture he checked a demonstration Of
applause which would have marrod
MS entrance INTO the lyric play. and
when the audience Gas numerous as
The house wou hold, Of course) paid
! thrilling tribute at the end of the
first act ne refused to accept it as an
expression designed for him self alone,
but every time that he appeared before
the curtain he BROUGHT Miss PonseIe
and Mr.. d'Angelo with him. After that
the performance pursued its course as
If the unfortunate incident OF Satur-
day had not occurred. The represen-
]
service Of Miss Ponsolle and Mr.. Mar
dcnes, who were on the sick list last
week.
There were naturally many inquiries
at the opera house concerning Mr.. Caru-
SOS condition during the day To all
The answer was returned that the in
jury which the great singer had suf-
fered was triainr one (the burst
ing OF minute blood vessel at the
root Of the tongue and that he would
sing in the opera at night as an
nounced.