Evening star., 1937-01-09
Art Quartet
by
BigAudience
Stradivarius Instru-
ments Meet Test in
Different Hands.

TINE second Of the pair of con-
certs given this week at the
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
= Auditorium in the Library of
Congress by the Musical Art Quartet,
Sascha Jacobsen and Paul Bernard
violins; Louis Kievman, viola; Marie
Roemaet -Rosanoff, violincello, drew an
audience yesterday which exceeded the
seating capacity of the auditorium.
Seats were provided. however, for
everybody in the anteroom adjoining
the hall. The concert was under
auspices of the Gertrude Clarke
Whittall Foundation, Mrs. Whittall
being the donor of the quartet OF
instruments made by Stradivarius.
There is little doubt that the famous
instruments proved to be an addi-
tional attraction. It is interesting. in
deed, to hear them in different hands,
for no two persons play them alike.
An occasion such as this may be
considered one of significance to every
craftsman of string instruments and
should serve as an incentive to many
a modern Luther.
Offering in Movements.
The quartet chose for its first offer
ing the Joseph Haydn Quartet in D,
Op. 81, No. s." in four movements, the
last two subdivided. 1t usually takes
an entire number, under circumstances
such as these, for the artists to warm
up and to lose self-consciousness. The
composition, characteristic Of Haydn,
huoyant, rythmic and sonorous, suf-
fered therefore in quality. and the
performance may be termed uneven
1t was brought to close by the brill
liant vivace of the finale, which found
favor with the large audience.
An earlier work of Serge Rach-
maninoff, Sonata in G Minor, Op.
49," for violincello and piano, COM
posed 35 years ago by the master
in the prime of his powers, is notable
for its beauty, wealth of contents
and craftsmanship. 1t gives both in
struments an opportunity to show
themselves in most favorable light.
Marie Roemaet-RoSanoff acquitted
herself with distinction. Generously
applauded. she was recalled several
times. Her tone. masculine in power.
has virility and beauty. her technic
is facile and her execution faultless.
The last can be applied to Frank
Sheridan; however, the fact that he
does not adjust himself perfectly to
one partner, while he reigns supreme
with group. is to be regretted. There
was an absent mindedness, a matter
of-factness and lack of nuance in his
playing of the Rachmaninoff. The
andante was especially beautifully
played by Nine. Roemaet-RoSanoff
and could be successfully used as a
solo number on program. The allegro
messo of the finale gave both artists
an opportunity to display their artistic
elan and technic.
Quintet in F Minor"
The Musical Art Quartet and Mr..
Sheridan united in the last number
the Cesar Franck Quintet in F
Minor" often called Franck's Swan
Song" since it was completed one
year before his death. The rendition
was distinguished by reverence, rich
ness of sound and style, so often dis
torted by inadequate editions Of his
music. It was a well-chosen num-
ber, showing the artists and the in
struments at their best. The velvety
quality of the Stradivari blended with
the sorority Of the piano and brought
the concert to a successful close.
There will be two more concerts
on this series given by the Roth String
Quartet of Budapest, January ~ and
29. e. de S.