MR HOLENBERGH'S RECITAL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18185, 23 September 1924, Page 14

MR HOLENBERGH'S RECITAL.

Mr Holenbergh 's Becond recital witnessed a considerable improvement in 'tho attendance; even so, it did not come up to.expectations. One realises, of courso, that more than one sermon on the subject pf attendance at artists' concerts must bo preached in this colujui, before our musical friends wake up. The recital, however, stood noways behind expectations. Mr Holenbergh carried a splendid programme through with full honours. There was forthcoming an exceptional accumulation of great works. The noble Prelude and Fugue in A Minor by Bach headed the list. Then followed Grieg'a Suite in Old Style "From Holberg's Time," which is most happily inspired and cleverly designed. There is no (valid reason why" such, ■fine work as Mendelssohn's "Variations Serieuses" should ever have disappeared from concert programmes, their ingenious construction and brilliant exposition are attractive enough. Mr Holenbergh played them very skilfully and effectively indeed. ; Tireless, ho out, nejtt in succession the still more formidable "Carnival" by Schumann. To make it understood in our time there should always' be given an explanatory notice. For the bare names of the sections are merely riddles for those who d/> not know the scheme of the admirable, but intricate composition. It was finely presented as a whole,, but some of its numbers, like the "Pr6ambule," "Eusebius," and the "March .of the Davidsbundlers," were particularly captivating in his exposition, and, in fact, as he proceeded in his task, Mr Holenbergh won higher and higher opinions-of his skill and powers of delineation. The Schumann "Intermezzo' r was a welcome.. encore, and very generous to be given after such an exhausting feat'as the "Carnival." The last group moved again, on cosmopolitan lines, including Rachmaninoff,, with his well-known Prelude Sibelius with a Eomance in a rather happier mood than usual, Pugno serenading "The Moon"; Kreisler, and, to finish with, Chopin, represented by the D Flat "Prelude" and the "Scherzo" in C Sharp Minor. The, acclamation of Mr Holenbergh was of the warmest, not more, though, than he amply deserved. . In a place where so much is done tor the ear, the eye should at least not be offended. The ragged and dirty condition of the stage-fittings at the Choral Hall is a perfect eye-sore, that is well worth an attempt at improvement.