Evening star., 1922-12-08
0ssip Gabrilowitsch.

ihefe IS an element in Washington
upon which Ossip Gabrilowitsch can
always rely Tor whole-hearted sum
port. II he has not met it before. he
PLAYED before it last night at the
Masonic Auditorium. in the second
recital OF T. Arthur Smiths master
pianist series" 1t is too bad that a
larger auditorium could not have
been secured for Mr.. Gabrilowitsch.
and then again maybe it was good
that the Masonic hall could hold only
as many as it did. FOR virtually every
one Of the hun hdreds that held tickets
for last nights recital proved to the
pianist that he made a decided hit
with them. Mr.. Gabrilowitsch played
as he perhaps would play before his
own family circle. He seemed to
have a composure and assurance that
there was not a critical person lis
tening to him. and he gave one Of the
most delightful programs presented
in Washington by a pianist in many
day.
There was not a selection that was
over the heads of his listeners, and
at the same time his program was
not of the popular sort. Virtually
every piece was known to the audi
ence, and musical Washington was
well represented.
Opening with the Bach "Toccata and
Organ Fugue in D Minor" Mr.. Ga
brilowitsch proved that he was one
of the few, IL not the greatest, of
the great tecknicians. This NUMBER
was forte throughout but he change9 .n zee!
Major Song without Words" a sooth-
ing lullaby, and, leaning back in his
chair and with his head thrown back;
appeared to be dreaming as MS mana
moved lightly and slowly over the
keys. c.h,r,,nr
,,.a hrourht to a dramatic climax by
the pianjst, and he followed It imme
diatelv with the Moonlight Sonata.
the alleeretto being presented IN true
G;abrilowitsch form "tu.
promptu. opus So and the "Nalses
in 4 Flat Major. op:. s." "A M'nor:
nnns "A" and 4 Flat Major. Opus ~.
lIe was loudly applauded for the last
valsc and responded with an encore
In the Schubert "a Fiat MaJo.
'.''tn p.ut,p,i p,irbtninr runs was ably demon
se1t was l1elude to the final num-
her on the program. Theme Vare'
opus 16." by Paderewski. s;.
Some one once remarken IN
crssinr the merits of Rachmaninon
and Paderewski. that the former -
composer, while the latter IS
yirtuoso Surely the author OF tnat
statement never heard the fneme
Varie." The Theme. IS see"e' m'u
he marked "for virtuosos only. as
for the first time in the evening Mr;
Gabrilowitsch broke away from tnat
ease with which he played the nrst
part of his program and actually tasmy
worked. Everything in music eeems !.
to be incorporated in this Theme
which required many minutes to play.
Rapid octaves. arpegioes. trils. runs
and chords all were embodied IN II,
and at a tremendous tempo. too. BUT
here and there the soft Paderewski
tones are evident, all of which made
it one of the most remarkable pieces
of the evening.
For his efforts in this last program
number, the pianist was given round
after round Of applause. 1t was only
by playing for them the waltz IN e
Sharp Minor" by Chopin. and Men
delssohn's "Spring Song" that he
was able to close his delightful and
entertaining program.
"Cavalleria Rusticana"."I Pag-
liacci."
"Cavalleria Rusticana' and II Pag-
liacci," aptly named the grand opera
twins" were given by the San Carlo