The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-14
SPLENDID CONCERT
 HEARD LAST NIGHT
Stradivarius Quartet and Miss Kerr, Pianist,
 Artistic Program
EXCELLED IN QUINTET

The Stradivarius Quartet of New York and Miss Muriel Kerr collab- orating pianist. delighted large au- dience last night at Buckingham hall in the second concert of the Community Concent Course for this season. The quartet was composed of Wolf Wolfinsohn, first violin; AL Moldavan, viola; and Gerald War burg, cellist. This Instrumental en- semble played two groups of music especially adapted to the small en- sem ble group. and joined with Miss Kerr in the final selection of the evening. the Quintet in E Major, opus A, by Schumann. Although much has been heard of the art of the young pianist, Miss Muriel Kerr. who at nineteen by her undeniable skill has placed herself in the ranks of musicians of extraordinary abil- ity, she comes as something of a surprise, and pleasant one at that. Already her art has the ma ture qualities that sometimes do not develop in artists. however skill than is Miss Kerr. Especially noted in her limited performance last evening was great breadth of tone; this was full and rich and of beautiful quality in certain passages such as was demonstrated in her opening selection, Chopin's Noc- turne in c Minor. She began this number boldly and fearlessly, and the quality of her playing assured one at the start that she possessed unusual skill at the piano. Her playing gave evidence that she happily combined two elements. sincere interpretation and extraor- dinary technique. not always noted. in which might be termed a newly arrived pianist.
 The excellent and musicianly Stradivarius group chose for their opening, Beethoven's Quartet, opus IS, No 5. The four parts were or nice contrast, and each man in the group gave a singularly fine per formance. The theme with varia- tions in the andante cantabile movement was introduced. and talk en up by each instrument with fine effect. Each part was noticeab!y short but quite complete ending with a brilliant allegro. The group was next heard in three selections representative of the modern French school of music. They played Lord Gregory (Ancient Gallowegian Mel ody)", Debussys delicate La file aux cheveux de lin,'' and Tam bourin" by Gossec. They responded to continuous applause by playing an arrangement of Scotch song. Fine musicianship was dtsp ay e Il throughout the performance by the quartet. ,,
 Miss Kerr's numbers were all Chopin. After her opening nocturne she gave in the following order: the Etude in c Major. Opus 10, No q, Mazurka in A Minor. a direct con- trast to the first two, and lastly the Etude in c. Minor, Opus 25, No 12. Her next appearance was with the Stradivarius quartet in the quintet. This was a fitting climax to SD art istic a program. The quartet and Miss Kerr presented the number brilliantly. Each artist was intent on his own reading but there was 6 notable unity, and the presentation was brilliant and smooth in its con- tinuity. The quintet opens with an allegro brilliante movement. and the manner in which tte five artists sounded the opening measure left no room for question as to how they would get on through the modO d'una marcia, scherzo motto vivace, and the final allegro ma non troppo.
 Miss Kerr responded to encores after her Chopin and played Bach chorale, arranged by Myra Hess, and "Tambouiin" by Rameau-God- owsky. M. M.