Year: 1876

HANS Won DULOWB 3 PIANO RFCITAIS.


The third Of the present series OF Beethoven plano
reciias by Won Bulow took place night CHECKER
ing Hall The programme was as follows Sonata,
opus lOl, in major sonata opus lO6 in B fat, and
thirty-three variations waltz OF DiabelL Although
there were only threo numbers on the bill yet
they were sufficient to satisfy the most insatiate
musical mind for nights concert Won
Bulow did not think so, however, for he
added to them the sonata opus 81 No g. in Fat ma
jor The sonata in major dedicated the Baroness
Ertmann, Is full Of poetry, probably more dreamy
work than better known sonata OF Beethoven. II is
too seldom given In New York. The pianist seemed TO
suffer under unwoned nervous excitement during the
performance OF this work. The magnificent ntroduc-
tion, AHgreto ma non froppo which is susceptible Of
being rendered with the utmost tenderness was In the
Interpretation technically correct but as cold as ice in
It's delivery The quaint march theme that followed was
not well rendered the pianists fingers seemed to
betray weakness TO which they not generally
customcd. The Addqio betrayed either wearincss or
indifference TO It's inherent beauties In The rendering
The finale was taken at very rapid tempo, but showed
degree OF spirit and dash the part Of tho pianist
worthy OF his great reputation Then Won Bulow in
troduced the lovely sonata opus 81, No true tone
poem. and he played II with exquisite tenderness,
iaultless skill and in such an entirely intel
ligible style that the audience appauded him
to the echo. Then came the most formidable
undertaking OF all the great sonata in fiat,
opus lO6, which very few plansts for the last 1ny
years have venured 10 essay In public. 1t is COM
parativc stranger TO New York audiences on account
of It's tremendous technical difficulties and there
not many vrtuos to-day either side OF the Atlantic
clever though they may be the intricaces Of Rubin


stein and List, who would venture to try the grand
giant sonata Of Beethoven before the public Won
Bulow seems to have made IL especial study. A
peculiar contrefemps occurred in the first
movement OF this sonata The pianist got
FAR as the l06th measure, where long trill
comes in when he suddenly sprang from his at the
piano, rushed of the stage and commenced TO berato
somebody % h behind The scenes Tnen couple OF men
hind the scenes. pause of few minutes occurred;
there was hearty laugh on tho part OF the audience
and tho irascblc Doctor again took his seat Every
thing seemed now 10 be to his satisfaction for he
played the sonata with such effect that all his
former efforts at Beethoven were dwarlef compar-


son Tho episode, as many musicians present
effect but the artistic Interpretation OF the great
work not the less to be praised. Tho first move
ment ms long the Introduction TO the great fat
concerto aud lar more difficult, went beneath Bulow's


inspired hngers without flaw to mar It's Apollo like
proportions, II may borrow term from sister
art Tho elaboraely constructed scherzo bete noir
for any one but thoroughly accomplished
artist, equally well delivered and in
the impassoned largo Won Bnlow displayed
of tho true Beethoven spirit than he
usually does in movements OF this kind The conclud


ing fugue, In three parts, which for effect depends
greatly on the player scarcely up to the standard
which the composer has prescribed for It, There
manifest signs OF weakness in the Interpretation OF
Won Bulow AS for the od-iashioned waltz theme
Beethoven wrote thirty three variations, IL went
beneath the fingers of Won Buow last night
as II he liked IL immensely Tho poor old
Professor must have been startled when he found his
simple theme swclled into such magnitude and raised
TO such degree OF importance alter passing through
the hands OF the greatest genius that the musical
world has ever Tho two fugues, mnuet, scherzO
and largo interpreted by Won Bulow with especial
matinf. takes place to-day at Chickering Hail. on
which occasion Wednesdays bill will bo repeated.