Evening star., 1947-10-27
By Alice Eyersmon

The series of concerts presented In
Constitution Hall under the Doro-
thy Hodgkin Dorsey management
was inaugurated yesterday after
noon with a brilliant violin recital
by Zinc F'rancescatti. This splendid
artist who appeared comparatively
recently in the concert world of this
country, is rapidly challenging the
exploits of others firmly established
in this field. His audiences 60 away
thrilled by his performance, as it
did yesterday. for to the well-knoWn
styles of other violin celebrities,
Francescatti brings an individuality
of his own.
BY reference to style is meant the
great beauty of tone associated with
one artist, the dazzling technical
skill of another and the interpretive
powers of a third. These combine
in Francescatti with the personal
touch that is the outgrowth of his
particular talent. That it is diff
ferent and certainly profound, was
to be assayed in his playing of a
program whose kernel was made up
OF numbers that are familiar parts
of every violinist's repertoire. When
these compositions can be presented
from fresh viewpoint, with a
shining polish of their well-known
phrases and with new infections to
their meaning, then the artist who
can work such magic is someone to
be reckoned with.
1t would be we'll nigh impossible
to find in the length and breadth
Of this land violinist of artist
stature who has not played the
Franck "Sonate" of the Chausson
"Poeme." The delivery of these
two pieces has become almost stere-
otyped. 1t cannot remain so since
Francescatti bent his mind and
artistic feeling to new study OF
them with most rewarding conse-
quences.
The fact that Francescatti's name
has been linked with the Paganini
traditions is misleading for it pre-
supposes special emphasis placed on
technique. But he Is first and fore
most an interpreter and his f1awless
mechanical means Is directed to that
end. He has temperament enough
for the most fiery passages, but he
can be calmness itself even to the
point of employing vibrato-less tone
for some effect. This was used in the
opening measures of the "Poeme"
with a subsequent thrilling de-
velopment into sonorous quality as
the drama of the work mounted
His fexibility of dynamics in the
"Sonate" and his clearly outlined
balance OF emotion, highlighted as
these were by the beautiful etching
Of individual phrases, were mastery
evidences not only of technical con-
troll but Of inspired ideas.
In the performance of these two
numbers especially, Artur Balsam at
the piano was an admirable collabo-
rator. He never overshadoWed the
violinist yet maintained the i'm
portance Of the piano part in its
proper proportions. Throughout the
recital the fact that every idea was
determined in sympathy by the two
performers was contributing factor
to the excellence of the ensemble.
For opening numbers Mr.. Fran
cescatti selected the Vitali-Charlier
"Chaconne" and the Tartini-Fran-
cescatti Variations on a Theme OF
Corelli." Charlier's piano introduce
ton Of the former led better into
the nicely compact performance the
violinist gave it. There is always
that sense Of a complete outline in
his playing, the way from the be-
ginning definitely planned to the
end, that creates an absorbed fol-
lowing In his listeners. His varia-
lions ON the Corelli theme are diff
ferent from those of Kreisler and
reflect his own personality. They
are display mediums for his fine
staecato and his rapid finger work.
There is at all times an immaculate
quality to his technique but, in the
bigger objective, even that becomes
Of secondary interest.
The principal departure in the
program was in the final group
which consisted of the Vale
Hetfetz "Ao Pc da Foguiera," Villa
Lobos' "Canto do Cysne Negro" the
DeFalla -Kreisler. La Vida Breve"
and three caprices of Paganint in
Pilati's arrangement.
Chamber Choral Group at Phillips.
Paul Galloway is to be commended
for the very unusual program he
chose for a performance by his
Chamber Choral Group in the
Phillips Gallery yesterday after
noon. 1t was noteworthy not alone
because 1t was confined to works by
contemporary composers but for It's
demonstration Of new possibilities in
choral unit. These numbers re-