AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 250, 22 October 1928, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

SHURA CHERKASSKY.

For two hours last Saturday evening the brilliant young Russian pianist, Shura Cherkassky, kept his delighted audience in the Town Hall enthralled with his remarkable performances. Though Shura was programmed for nine numbers, all of exceptional difficulty and interest, the visitor was enthusiastically requested to play 6ix extra pieces at the close of the recital. Shura opened with Johann Sebastian Bach's ""Chromatische Phantasie and Fugue in D Minor/' and he treated this splendid example of the great Cantor's mightiness in grandiloquent fashion. Energetically exposed was the Allegro, the opening roulades of the ascending melodic minor scale of D were executed with rapidity and equality by both hands, and the diminished seventh chords which pervade the movement were wiped away with dexterity and clearness. The vocerecitante parts were unfolded in a broad style, with intense feeling, whilst the embellishments, often doubled in places after the Ferrucio Busoni manner, were executed with finish and clarity of tone. Beethoven's "Sonata, Op. 27, No. 2.' gave the artist a wide scope to exhibit his manipulative and interpretative ability. The Adagio was delicately expressed, its ebb and flow of sympathy, pathos, and paasion being exposed with a songful touch, whilst the soft cadences of the Allegretto were charmingly displayed. The restless torrent of wild arpeggios, abrupt staccato chords, and cantabile G sharp minor episode of the Presto Agitato, were executed with raging stormy torrent and remarkable virtuosityship. Chopin's Opus 27, 47. 53, and 5B were artistically played. Much interest was taken in the performance of Drorsky's "L'Orient and L'Occ-ident," and Chasin's "Rush Hour," and a bravura delivery was given of Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 12." For the final concert to-morrow evening the Bach-Tansig "Toccata an'' Fugue," Schumann's "Carnaval." Chopin's "Sonata in B Flat Minor," and Dohnanzi's "Naila" Waltz will be performed. ORGAN RECITAL. In the Town Hall last night Mr. Maughan Barnett gave the usual organ recital, and was heard in works by Bach, Smart._ Goss-Custard, Peace, Rubenstein. and Wagner, all of which were artistically played, and highly appreciated by the audience. STRAND, ONEHUNGA. A special programme has been arranged for the holiday at the Strand Theatre, Onehunga, and as a special attraction the management have secured the World'# Entertainers. This combination includes Harmston's comedy cockatoos, Manelli and Mack Comedy jugglers, Jean McDonald and her wonderful mvstifying living marionettes, and Evelyn "May in her latest creation of dances. "The World's Entertainers will be supported by & full picture programme.