New-York tribune., 1921-10-21
Two Pianists.
Three Singers,
Give Recital
Guy Maier and Lee Pastison
Charmin Varied Program;
Akimoff, Russian Basso,
Makes New York Debut
Nelson lllingsworth Heard
Miss Eva Cauihier Presents
Usual MODERNISM Numbers,
Including Korngold Air

Two pianists and three singers gave
recitals yesterday These artists in
cluded four old friends and one new
conner. The annual concert of music
for two pianos by Guy Maier and Lee
Pattlson may always be counted one of
the pleasantest events of the musical
season, and the appearance of the two
young men at Aeolian Hall yesterday
afternoon proved no exception to the
rule. A feature of their program was
Bach's concerto in c minor, in which
the pianists were assisted by the Dur
rell String Quartet. This lent variety
to the occasion and was a pretty
tribute to the composer. But the
Messrs. Maier and Pattison are in
themselves excellent hosts and require
no assistance in providing musical fare
that is both delightful and edifying.
Any artist intent upon making an
attractive program may turn with
profit to the works Of Serge Rach-
maninoff, and thus the Russians Valse
Op. II, with it's beguilingly whirring
opening, provided the pianists with an
other charming number. Less fortu-
nate were their adventures in the
works of the modernists, "Moy Nell" ="
by the Englishman Arnold Bax, ard
"Jeux de Plein Air." by Mile. Germaine
Tailleferre, the only feminine member
of the French Six, a group of ultra
modernists of France. "Moy Nell" or
"The Happy Plain" is legendary
island somewhere in the Atlantic, re-
ferred to in old Irish stories as
"heaven." Mr.. Bax has painted a
cubist's heaven in pseudo Irish tints,
chiefly suggesting q poor imitation of
the much abused Debussy, whom the
ultra modernists both initiate and
are for sophisticated children. They
are amiable trifcs, but lack the charm
ing simplicity of Debussy's "Boite q
Joujoux." The music of both Of these
composers was far outshone by three
little pieces for children-serenade
berceuse and polka-in the collection
entitled "Pupazetti" by Alfredo Casella,
the Italian modernist, now in this
country and soon to appear in recital
and as soloist with the Philadelphia
Orchestra, which were played as an
encore. These were genuinely humor
Gus, and Mr.. Casella's use of dis
sonances did not affront the ears.
Equally ingenious and amusing was
Edward Burlinghame Hill, an effective
number in the last group of pieces,
which included Caesar Franck's pre-
lude, fugue and variation, Duvernoy's
"Feu Roulant" and Ernest Hutcheson's
arrangement of the Rakoczy March.
Two Pianists of First Rank
The playing of Messrs. Maier and
Pattison has often been praised in this
journal. Both are pianists of the first
rank. Both have blended their indi-
vidual pianistic virtues SO finely as to
make their two instruments sound as
one. Their admirable sense of rhythm
and almost uncanny preservation of
unity again charmed their hearers yes
terday.
At the same time, in Town Hall, Nell
son Illingworth, barytone, who gave
several recitals last season, was sing
ing songs by Schubert. Mr.. Hing
worth's indisputable merits have long
been recognized here and it was pleas
ure to hear him again.
In the evening at Carnegie Hall
Alexander Akimoff, Russian bass
from the Petrograd Opera House, made
his first appearance in America. He
disclosed an agreeable voice and
somewhat crude style in songs by Schu-
bert, Strauss, Dvorak, Glinka, Rach-
maninoff and other composers.
While he sang Miss Eva Gauthier
was giving her only New York recital
of the season at Town Hall. Miss
Gauthier has done valiant work in in
trcducing modern works to New York
audiences, and again last evening her