New-York tribune., 1922-09-30
MiscIla Elman
,WelconedBack
After. 2 Seasons
Russian Artist Who Played
Here Fourteen Years
Ago Still a ssBoy Won
der" to His Press Agent
Gives Bach and Handel
Marvellous Technical Skill
Somewhat MARRIED by
Treatment of Selections
By II. <. Krchbiel

IL an extremely assiduous and anaz-
sngsy ili-informed press agent is to be
Believed (which he is not), Father
f.rne has been playing pranks with
Mischa Einsan during the last FIVE
years. He has not only stood still "as
q lawyer in vacation" but actually
turned backward a decade or more
Enough the Russian artist played for
us in New York fourteen years ago and
vas rather mature youth at that
time, we were recently told how
amazed some European people were TO
discover that so famous an artist was
.Mill such lad in years.
Then came another notice, indicat-
ing that the man with scythc was
ambling along at pretty rapid gate
Elman was last heard in New York
though the date of his last concert
here was in May, 1920. Since he had
been giving concerts throughout the
length and breadth of the land ever
since he made his American debut at
q concert of the Russian Symphony
Orchestra on December 10, 1908, the
public might have been spared
information much Of which was high
iy unimportant, If true. We could
have wished, moreover, that the suite
of incidental pieces composed by
Erich Korngold for Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing" which he
played at recital in Carnegie Hall
last night, had not been heraided as q
novelty, composed for and dedicated
70 him. for it compels as for the sake
IF. historical verify to call attention
%. the fact that the same arrange
nen for violin and pianofortc was
,layed in the same room on Decem-
,er s, 1920, by Mr.. Fritz Kreisler, and
yas performed in it's proper shape for
mall orchestra exactly year later
# the Friends Of Music under the
iirecton of Mr.. Bodanzky.
Small matters these in crowded
ewspaper to-day, but possibly worth
7hile as indication of the effrontery
ignorance Of publicity makers and
ne careless attitude Of some artists
ward their art. Possibly Mr.. Ell
IAN, his managers and their press
gent were as ignorant of these facts
they seem to have been about the
urposes of the composer, for the fan
lstic march of Dogberry and the
latch was labeled IA Grotesque Fu~
eral March" A funeral march In
hakespeare's merry comedy. Zounds!
sui there perhaps, 1t Is we VINO are
mixing much ado about nothing.
Enough. Mr.. Elman gave recital
ist night. as indicated, and played
ne Korngold piece after Handels
onata in D with Mr.. Josclf Bonime at
ie pianoforte); Bach's Chaconne, and
ieuxtemp's Concerto in A minor.
20 also. played group Of smaller
sisces, some Of them transcriptions of
is own making. He was enthusiastically
welcomed after his two seasons
bscnce by an audience which crowded
ne immense room, including the stage.
verything that he did was to the
reat liking of his hearers, even down,
e, dare say, to his sentimental So
histication Of the classical pieces,
rhich ought to have made all judicious
!steners grieve. The lofty serenity
nd pure eloquence of the melodies Of
Ian6el and Bach ought not to be
aarrsd by sloppy portamentos, dis
,rted phrases and tuppenny effects
s,nuance. Mr.. Elman has a marvel
as technical equipment for tone for
alton, as we'll as tone production, and
ould sing on his instrument like a
sraph II he only would. He should
sevide his audiences With an intel
sctual and emotional uplift, not play
,,s tickle bad taste.