The New York herald., 1922-11-05
MoiSieWitsch in
Recital Plays the
Piano Brilliantly
Young Russians, Who Made
Debut in 1919, Is Heard
Again.
ny W. j. HENDERSON.

Benno Moisiewitsch, d young Russian
pianist. mado his debut in this city on
November -. 1919. There was much
promise in his performance, and yet
ground for doubt as to which path he
would elect to follow. For he dis
piayed highly developed technic, al
exqusitcly graded range OF dynamics,
= feeling tor musical beauty-and n
tendency % indulge In eccentricities.
Mr.. Moisiewitsch played several times
in subsequent years, and yesterday aft
ernoon gave his first recital of the
present season in Carnegie Hall.
He offered a good though convention
al program. In which the first two num-
bers should have revealed all the ar
tistic progress he had made since he
fist came to New York. The pianists
performance OF the "Waldstein" sonata
vas that of a young man eager, search
ms and somewhat feVerish. IL wanted
the lofty calm of Beethoven's thought
and II sought anXiousiy to shed bril-
lance upon points. But Beethoven and
tho spotlight do not consort we'll
Could Mr.. Molsiewitsch have been
reading that eminent authority. Grove 5
Dictionary? II grayely informs us
that in the finale o6 the sonais there ar;
on the pianos of light touch be played
glissando. Mr.. Moisiewitsch took this
valuable hint and played them that way.
Beethoven never employed virtuoso
tricks though his younger contemr
Weber did introduce glssando octaves
in his "Concertstuck." But more sgni-
Ecant was the pianists general attitude
toward the composition. IT was that or
q vigorous young man, with his vision
illumined chiefly by eXternais
In the Schumann "Etudes Synpho-
niques," the second number, Mr.. Moisie-
witsch did some beautiful playing and
again some that made the hearer Won
der whether he intended to sustain pub
lie interest in his future recitals by the
introduction of astonishing effects.
lt would be q pity if this genuinely
talented young man should permit him
self TO drift into bad habits. He has
the technic and the touch with which
audiences can be charmed and his play
ing has raVishing tonal qualities. Per
haps maturity will bring artistic wisdom
No lasting success in art has ever been
gained merely by arousing public asto-
TO the experienced theatergoer there
Is always something saddenlng in the
spectacle of little boy appearing be-
fore an audience of adults and trying
TO interpret the music of Bach. Bee
thoven or Chopin. The little boy cam
not do il well, any more than he might
act Hamlet well or paint a real
Madonna. He can only initiate. lie
does what his teacher has taught him
docs it creditably. indifferently or
badly according TO his mechanical
gifts. People who wish TO hear the
music of the masters go to hear il in
terpreted by adult players.
A little boy named Jascha Silberman
gave piano recital last evening In
Aeolan Hall. lie performed Bach 5
italian Concerto and other music,
and, in so far as one experienced con
certgoer was concerned, evoke only
the thoughts above recorded. Perhaps
some day this little boy may be 4
great pianist. He is at present APP
parently just "A nice little boy who is
unaware of the significance of the un-
dertaking imposed upon him by Others
who should know better.