Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-28
Nj u S &c
! SYLVIA ALTMAN'S RECITAL.

1t was Franz Schubert vino wrote
the song "Who Is Sylvia?" and then
answered his question by telling what
delightful person sylvia WaS-ail
of which remarks would describe little
Sylvia Altman, the Washington child,
10 years old who played the piano
last night in a recital at the Jewish
Community Center with all the verve,
poise and color in Interpretation Of a
famous veteran. 1t Is not going too
far to say that Sylvia Altman has
genius. for she has the power of per-
sistent, painstaking application that,
combined with musical talent to a
marked degree, makes for real
genius. If Sylvia Altman keeps on
steadily climbing as she has climbed
in the three short years since this
nearer first listened to her playing
of the Beethoven concerto: the first
movement of which was on her pro-
gram last night. she will go to the
very top as a pianist of individual
fame.
The same may almost as confident
~ be said of her little brother Julian.
who at IL years shows talent coupled
with earnest, careful absorption and
confidence in his violin playing that
may carry him far, too. Little Julian
naturally got some notes with strong
err resonance than others and his gen
eral production will probably improve
immensely when he gets a little big
ger. There was nothing wrong with
his rhythm or complete oneness with
his instrument, and his chromatics
and plucked passages were amazingly
well done for such tiny fingers.
OF the first two movements of the
Seitz concerto he came through best
in the second part. His encore, the
second and third movements of the
Huber concerto, was much enjoyed by
the audience and showed him to have
round sweet tone to his bow. His
last encore, Cuts "Orientale," was not
quite his, but proved a brave at.
tempt. Sister Sylvia at the piano was
a fine little accompanist. subduing
both her playing and her own per-
sonality for the glorification of little
brother.
The evening, however, belonged to
Sylvia, who also prefaced her playing
Of each composition with we'll chosen
remarks, telling either the nature of
the composition itself or the picture
it brought to her own mind. In the
first group of Johann Sebastian
Bach's works she remarked that to
many people Bach's music was dry
and boresome, but, II think 1t is as
emotional music as ever have
heard" and she certainly played it
with color. There was the adagio
"Intrata," a gay "Preambule," which
Sylvia said made her think Of little
children gathering to play together
for a while and then all running
away, and a "Gavotte" in which
Sylvia brought out the delicacy and
velvet roundness Of her notes excep-
tionally well.
In the Schubert ''Impromptu." with
its tricky, elaborated passages, Sylvia
advantage in her sustaining Of the
melody. The same quality also was
especially noticeable in the Chopin
"Berceuse." LISTS Dance of the
Guomes" and Rachmaninoff's &C
Sharp Minor Prelude" were given in.
depreciation in thoroughly profess
sional manner and with convincing
finish. Her encores, the Minute
Waltz" Of Chopin and "Rondo," by
Dussek. were we'll chosen and well
performed.
ment OF the Beethoven Concerto,
No. 9" that Sylvia showed her stature
as a musician most effectively, for
she seemed to know the orchestra's
part as completely as her own and
was always there at the second that
she should be ready with the piano
part. Moreover. she gave it a fine
reading and contributed her share to
the list of works performed in honor
of the Beethoven centenary. The or
chestra played well, but not up to
the finish set by this unusual little
soloist. 1t appeared to much better
advantage in the Weber "Euryanthe."
which had some lovely moments Of
ensemble effects. The peer Gynt''
suite Of Grieg was given orchestral
reading with the right color and
rhythms, but a few slips, especially
in the trying minor chords OF Asses
Death" There do not seem to be anv
brasses in this orchestra, but the
strings. under DIR. c. z. Christiana.
are doing some good. co-ordinated
work and the bass VOL seemed to work
overtime. The pianist came out very
well in the first work in the suite,
Morning with just the right amount
OF prominence and tone color.