The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-12-13
Evening Of Magic
Music Afforded by
Ligefi and Gordon

In addition to sheer enjoyment
afforded by the Ligeti- Gordon con-
cert, those who heard them at the
goth Century Theatre last night
could not but feel a sense of graf
itude to these very exceptional ar
lists who are travelling the long
/ Alaska Music Trail to bring Us
/ = usic such as we have seldom
! heard in the north.
The local response to this second
of the Juneau-Douglas Concert As
sociation's presentations this season
was good and the theatre well fllled
/ The enthusiastic comments of the
audience during the intermission
and in the lobby as the crowd
was leaving the theatre, still thrill
ed by the music brought to them
by Marcus Gordon, pianist, ano
Desire Ligeti, bass baritone, indi-
Gated the success of the evening.
Marcus Gordon was especially
well received by the Juneau audi
ence His choice of selections and
fine execution evoked sincere ap-
preciative applause. In his first
group were two light Scarlatti SON
atas in E major and A majo-,
followed by Beethoven's ever-popu-
lar Moonlight Sonata which was
finely interpreted.
| C'ordon's second group began
with Chopin's Scherzo in C sharp
minor which was truly appreciated
I This, he followed with Cat ano
Mouse (Scherzo Humoristique) by
COPELAND, lighter gymnastic num-
Der. Lament Of the Maid and the
Nightingale by the Spanish COM
poser Granados, a melodious piece,
Gordon played with delicate feeling.
Alter telling the story of how
Debussy wrote General Lavine-ec-
centric, Gordon played the sketch
wildly. The final number in the
last group was the Sweethear,
Waltz from Gypsy Baron" by
Strauss-Dohnanyi.
Applause brought him back with
Chopin's A Flat Polanaise, the an
nouncement of which, caused q
ripple of thanks to run through the
crowd.
For a solo piano artist, Gordon
proved himself an extremely sensi-
tive accompanist for Ligeti.
The magic and versatility Of
Ligeti's voice, rich in timbre ans
beautifully handled at all time,
and the ample scope and flexibilit5
of his wide bass-baritone rangi
was displayed in his dramatic anc
forceful Interpretation OF Mozart,
Catalogue Aria from Don Giovan-
nj" the sprightliness Of Fran.
Schubert's Der Musenhohn (Son O.
The Muse and in the song of ths
lovers dilemma, Which one
should I Marry" by Kodaly.
The purity of Iigeti's blending o.
tone was pronounced in the Sone
CT the Evening Star from Tam
hauser" by Wagner, which was
beautifully done, as was his inter
probation of None But the Lonely
Heart by Tschaikowsky, in which
his depth of feeling held his audi
ence.
Ligeti was very much at home
in his Interpretation of the opera
arias in his second group. Out
standing was his singing OF the
Tofeador Song from Carmen"
The Song of the Flea from Faust
was sung with dramatic excellence
Ligeti sang in Frencr, a departur;
from the usual Interpretation in
English or Russian.
His mastery of the languages and
his excellent diction gave adde.
appeal to the enjoyment of his
voice.
For his encores Ligeti sang Two
Grenadiers by Schumann and the
ever popular Trees.
From his first appearance Liget
established an intimate and friendls
manner which carried his audience
5with him as he gave an informal
brief sketch Of the story of each
OF his songs, bringing to life the
great composers whose music he
SO capahly handled. The ease with