BACKHAUS SEASON.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19985, 21 July 1930, Page 6

BACKHAUS SEASON.

FIRST CONCERT TO-NIGHT.

At the Municipal Concert Hall to-night, Wilhelm BackhaM, the famous pianist, makes hia reappearance in Christchurch after an absence of four years. Hia fiiot tour of the Dominion wae one of the outstanding events in the musical history o! New Zealand.- For months prior to hia visit, his coming waa on the lips of all in the musical world. The great name ha had made in musio circles in the older world ranked him aa one of the outstanding pianist* of the day. His great artistry and talents left on abiding impression which ia gure to bring all those who heard him then to the Municipal Concert Hall again. His work during the past four years in England, Germany, South America, France, Spain, and other countries, has placed him on an even higher plane, and to-day he is regarded by many critics as being without peer as a pianist. Having practically all the great works ever written for the pianoforte in his repertoire, he is able to frame unrestricted programmes, and the programme for hia opening recital to-night is a widely appealing one, including two Bethoven sonatas, opus 81 No. 8 in E Flat, and opus 81 in E flat major; the Italian Concerto (Bach), four studies fiom opu« 10, Nocturne opus 62 in B major, prelude in B flat major, waltz opus 64 in D flat maior, and Scherzo in C sharp minor, all by Chopin. Serenade from "Don Ji-sn" (Mozart-Baokhaus), Liebnitraum ("Liszt), and Second Hungarian ■Rhapsody (Liszt). The second and third recitals will be given on Friday and Saturday next. The plans are at The Bristol, and tho day sales at Begg's.