JASCHA SPIVAKOVSKY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 161, 10 July 1922, Page 7

JASCHA SPIVAKOVSKY.

A BRILLIANT PIANIST. The gifted young Russian pianist, Mr. - ! Jascha Spivakovsky gave his premier \ recital in the Municipal concert hall jlast Saturday evening, when his remarkn able technical skill, thorough musiciani- slli Pi and attractive programme ot ,f pianoforte music aroused tremendous c enthusiasm from the large audience prey sent. The recitalist kept those before c him absolutely enthralled for the two d hours he presided at the concert-grand, r Time after time Spivakovsky was I- honoured with great outbursts "of apt clause, and at the conclusion of his i- splendid performance the virtuoso had i- to return amidst a scene c-f wild en- ; thusiasm, and contribute extra piano- !- forte solos. Spivakovskv is a remark- > able pianist, and specially successful in t Bach, Brahms and Chopin. Everything - he -does is marked with true earneste ness and sincerity, and he never tries to - attract those in front 'by a display of r hie virtuosity. He secures a remarkable i crescendo, and obtains any degree ot - force at will. From a single plastic '- rhythmical figure he creates entire t images and paints those in delicate hues. s He understands hie pianoforte's capacity - for dynamic climax, and knows how to - achieve definite contrasts, possesses a 1 faultless balance of values, and has - enough personality to make his playing interesting and gratifying beyond the intrinsic value of the pieces presented. ll' His arm always floats over the keyboard - with the wrist in an plastic condition, c the muscles being therefore released for t, playing without stiffness, and all finge" I exertion terminates at the moment of ,-itone emission. Delightful goseamer-like ,-1 effects are made in delicate passages c with a tone of exquisite quality and c pureness. Spivakovsky opened with the Baeh--0 Liszt organ "Fantasia and Fugue in G . J Minor," and treated this splendid c, example of the great cantor's mighti- ,- ness in grandiloquent fashion. The mi- j 1 j tial Grave was given with strength of I * tone in the majestic chordal parts,! . whilst the embellishments and flowing ' . figuration of demi-semiquavers were a I executed with neatness and facility, and 1 j the marcatissimo passages received just, 1 the requisite weight of tone to exhibit j the parts. The Fugue was rendered in j j a concise and clearly expressed manner, i delightfully displaying the intrinsic '■ j, value of its melodious character and : _! classic design. Brahms' "Sonata in F ! _ I Minor," op. 5, received a masterly per- i formance, the wonderful workmanship ! * of the author being unfolded in a style j " which brought out the desi<»n and fea- ! ture of this famous work. The opening j I Allegro received an exalted and intelli- ! _ gent reading, vigorous and powerfully \ treated was the first subject, whilst the j second in A flat major, which is on a j j rocking bass figure, was tenderly and j j expressively executed, and the rhythmi- i . cal flow throughout was also admirably j i i maintained. A lyrical and sooth- i I 1 ing performance of the D flat ! ! ' section was given, whilst the ' short and beautiful Intermezzo wae charmingly phrased, and the Finale received a brilliant delivery. Liszt's "La Campanella," yith its wild rush of chromatic and diatonic scales, upwards and downwards in triad and tetrachord form received a colossal delivery. A bravura performance was given of | Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude" and delicate readings were secured of the | "Etude in G Flat," op. 25, and Liszt'e "Gnomenreigen." A free and passionate rendering was given of Chopin's "BoleTO," and a beautifully liquid tone ' was revealed during the delivery of Liszt's third "Nocturne," whilst the encores, Godard's "Valse Chromatique" ! and "The Musical Box" afforded * unalloyed pleasure. To-morrow evening the gifted artist drives his second concert in the Town Hall, for which a splendid programme of . pianoforte gems hae been prepared. Music lovers should not miss this opportunity of hearing such an accomplished | musician. j