The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-13
HOME TOWN WELCOMES
THE REAL ARTIST
BY MIRCHMONT

The appearance of John Powell in
recital at the jefferson auditorium
horism as to the honour which proph-
hortsm as to the honour which prop
cts are said to enjoy in their own
country, since the reception which
was accorded him and the enthusiasnA
which his mastery playing evoked
proved beyond question that he is
recognized as a great artist in his
home country to the ame degree
proud moment to Mr.. Powell when
he acknowledged the whole-hearted
response to his wonderful perform.
ance of the List Fantasy which
closed last nights program
Mr.. Powell gave a program Of four
general numbers, opening with a
Schumann Fantasy in c major, four
Chopin numbers two of his own
compositions and closing with the
Lsxt. One may venture to say that
he was never in better form than
last evening. Whether this was due
to the fact that his audience was
thoroughly en- rapport with him, or
that this WAS a kind of valedictory in
cident to his going abroad soon with
the New York Symphony orchestra, as
the representative American pianist,
the result is the same. For sheer
technical ability. for breadth and
scope Of interpretative grasp. for
emotional reading, for brilliance OF
phrase, indeed. for all that goes 10
make up the sum of artistic pianism,
one rarely, might say. almost
never. bears as fine work as Mr..
Powell sgave US The climax of all
was reached in his Don Juan Fan
20 <xP fr~xk IT, Ia nE he a
strated the range OF his powers to
the with degree.
We have heard distinguished plan
lists in Richmond in past months,
Novaes, Gabrilowitsch, Granger, and
others, but for sustained interest. none
OF these exec sded, IL they approach
ed. the Powell program.
As interesting as any numbers of the
evening were those of the artists own
composition. the Poeme Erotiaue. the
pioneer dance. which might be termed
the dance heroique with equal pro-
priety, In view of it's string quati-
ties, and the banjo-picker. an added
number, which was in part repeated.
Mr.. Powell is par excellence the COM
poser of American music, as Granger
Is of English When John
Powell goes abroad to play, in addi-
ton to his orchestral numbers. many
acclaimed as the genius OF American
music, as the messenger of the new
world to the old. He will be recog-
missed, as a weil-known writer has ex-
pressed 1t recently, to be the giant of
American pianists and, equally. lead
er among American composers.
One does not recall larger audience
ut the Jefferson auditorium than that
of last evening. nor more inspiring
one 1t paid many tributes OF ITS
esteem for Mr. Powell. both by it's
close undertaking attention and by It's
spontaneous and sustained applause.
The number OF recalls which were re-
sponded to by the artist reminded one
OF the. farewell of q Bernhard or a
Patti. 1t must have warmed the
cookies of Mr.. Poweifs heart to ac-
knowledge such expressions OF admir;;-
tion. At the close Of the program, tlfe
audience remained firmly entrenched In
Its place until the artist returned TO
the piano for an additional number.
1t would be interestig to analyxe
the secret of John Powelfs artistic
appeal Whether 1t lies In his mas
terry OF the instrument In his superb
sclf-control, or in the spirit Of assur-
ance which his playing inspires, II
would be hard to say. II possibly lies
In the fact that John Powell 10 the
man as well as the artist. the man OF
Intellectual breadth, or the type which.
like the great Pole. PAderewski. may
BE- either pianist or premier. for such
4 man rs JUhn Fvwssf. ~ v
According to Lambs story. roast pig
wAs nrst discovered In China through
the accidental burning Of a house and
for q long time men burned houses In
order to have roast pig. Silly? Yes.
but no sillier than the general convic.
victicn that there 10 nowhere IN the
world sense enough 70 restore normal
conditions except through a panic
which will sweep away values and
x0rcS men to work FOR y trtf1s to rs-s
af0ra them