New Britain herald., 1923-03-10

day evening, OF Sergei RachmaninofI
pianist. under the auspices OF the New
Britain Musical club. was hailed q
the most successful OF this season
musical affair by critics who follow
such events His work was describe,
as the best instrumental Performance
yet heard In the city, not excepting
that of Harold Bauer. The master
program was characterised. as beinl
Of especial brilliance and Of wide ap
peal. The following account. writer
for the Herald by an accomplished
pianist and faithful critic, is re
printed:
Beginning his program under I
handicap caused by draughts across
the stage, necessitating the dropping
Of a protection curtain after the frs
group, the musician warmed to hi!
work which eliminated triumphant.
ly in the spectacular and popula,
Beautiful Blue Danube Strauss
Schulz Evler. The first group, com.
positions Of Chopin, brought much
sincere applause. the "Valse" IN A
fiat, proving especially delightful. In
this work, often played by other great
pianists. Rachmaninoff'c graceful In
depreciation OF the ending, displayed
what many characterized as a marked
superiority over other noted artists
In the '.Nocturne" there was a depth
of tone and feeling which wildly re-
flected the composer in his more
thoughtful moods. 1t was played
more slowly than one is accustomed
to hear 1t, and the reverie Of the
twilight hours, with the great COM
poser alone with his instrument, was
the theme that impressed.
Schumann's Carnival" the follow
ing number. gave the musician q
splendid opportunity to display the
brilliantly appealing quality Of his
touch and the work of the composer.
Noteworthy in this performance was
the really wonderful speed of execu-
ton of the climatic "Marche des
Davidsbundler contre des Philistines,'
never reached by most pianists IN
their playing of this composition. In
it were moments of striking similar
ity to the previously played Polo
naise," Chopin, in which Poland
is pictured-a dream
always very real to tLe composer but
which he did not live to realize.
Students were especially interested
in Rachmaninoff's own Prelude,
C-sharp," which civsed< the third
group. This together with the Min
net" and ''Liebesleid" brought out the
delicacy Of conception and
perfection of execution to a marked
degree and presented an example of
skill the students of the instrument
will not forget.
The enthusiasm of the final num-
Der, Beautiful Blue Danube" was
so marked that the musician was
reluctantly to respond to
an encore. playing the picturesque
"Juggleress;" Moszkowski, with splen-
did skill despite the cold which am
noyed him considerably.
1t seemed scarcely credible that
NJ. Rachmaninoff did himself full
Justice last evening, handicapped as
ne was by the wearing of adhesive
ape on two of his fingers where the
ncessant playing OF the concert tour
lad broken the nails from the flesh.
But no excuses were offered and the
excellence of his work made it evil
lent that none were needed. Again |
he New Britain Musical club has
tagged what amounted to an achieve
nent. Mr. Rachmaninoff's expressed
wish to play in this city again Is en-
Enthusiastically reciprocated by all who
lcard him.
Mr.. Rachmaninoff's program was:
a Fantasy
b. Ballade
c) Valse
ID Nocturne
e) Polonaise ..........,... CHOPIN
,arnaval ................ Schumann
Preamble, Pierrot, Arlequin, valse
noble, Eusebius, Florestan. Papil-
Ions, Lettres dansantes, Chiarina,
Chopin, Estrella, Reconnaissance
Plantation ct Colombine, Valse allie
mande, Paganini. Promenade.
Pause, Marche des Davidsbundler
contre les Philistines. i
al Minuet -. Observation-Disclosures
a. Liebesleid Kreisler- Rachmaninoff ,
c) Prelude. C-sharp minor. $50.
................., Rachmaninoffl ,,
eautiful Blue Danube .......... :
...... Strauss-S Schulz Evler .
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Steele, OF 451
Test Main street, observed their 25th
edding anniversary Monday at their
ONE. A number Of friends from
earby cities were guests at the sup
.r and dance.
New Britain Lodge of Elks will t
.lebrate its birthday Monday night, c
pril 2. It is expected that Govern L
Templeton will be guest at the {
lnauet and dance. The committee b
charge Is. Banquet, James H. Cur a
n and T. w. Grove; speaker, DR..
enry Martin, e. N. Humphrey and
AIRY C. Brown; invitations, ]. w. i,
ockett and w. e. Beers. :
The following committee has been =
,pointed to arrange for an observ- :
ice of st. Patrick's Day, March II,
the local Y. NJ. T. A. & B. society:
,rnard Clark, William Scheyd, =
.ank Riley, Hugh Curran. James :
onahue and Edward O'Rolley. :,
Mr.. and Mrs. +. II Copeman of :,
onroe street were SURPRISED at their :. :
me last Saturday evening by
mber of their relatives and friends
e occasion being the fortieth we'd !.
1g anniversary of the couple. Two =
their grandchildren, Robert :.
hmidt and Harolu Mitchell. were =
trusted with the presentation Of a,
o ruby rings to them, the gift of -
Fir children. 70
The Rev. William A. Harty's ~
3nch of the A. q. H. and the La p'