JULIUS KATCHEN

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 6

JULIUS KATCHEN

Magnificent Piano Recital Julius Katchen gave a pianoforte recital last evening in the Majestic Theatre, Christchurch. Hearing it was one of those rare experiences which leaves a listener feeling that he has heard playing as near perfection as he can imagine. Mr Katchen’s advance publicity made tremendous claims for himy He proved every word of it to be true ; and it is not often that one Can say t ; iat In listening to Mr Katchen, one forteets his technique, because everything Comes forth with such seeming ease, and he has no mannerisms which attract attention either to himself or to his technical powers. Yet now, thinking back on this glorious performance, one is left wondering how he managed to do it. Any detailed analysis of those qualities, physical, mental, and spiritual, which were combined to produce interpretations which one would venture to think would have excited and delighted Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, is impossible and uncalled for. It certainly is not going to be attempted. In the first work, an arrangement by Myra Hess of Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” Mr Katchen’s playing gave one a curious impression, never felt before as far as one can remember. It is a short work, and certainly very well known. When Mr Katchen was about half-way through it, it seemed as if he had been playing for a very long time, or that time no longer seemed to have any meaning. Naturally enough we have all, very often, heard the expression, ‘Time stood still.” It is an astonishing and most pleasant thing to find that it really means something. But something came from that pianoforte that did mean just that, and it was not the composition itself for, compared with many of Bach’s other works, one does not rate it highly. There is a mystical quality in Mr Katchen’s playing and it shone in his interpretation of Beethoven’s greatest sonata, the Opus 111. One has often regretted that one has not heard any great pianist play it since Backhaus did about 30 years ago. After hearing Mr Katchen, one will fear lest any lesser man than he will attempt it in one’s hearing again, for the memory of this performance will be strong and it will be enough. But one would go far and wide through floods to hear him play it again.

After this came the Brahms Sonata in F minor, Op. 5. It was played with fire, tenderness—how exquisitely that Andante was played—and with a wonderful sympathy with the spirit of youth which it captures so well Everything was there in such a performance, as it was also in Moussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” It would indeed be a great picture which could enshrine the multitude of colours and shading which we heard in Mr Katchen’s playing. What a programme this was! One can now easily understand why Mr Katchen is one of the few pianists who does today fill the concert houses of Europe. He will be giving another recital on Tuesday evening. One has never before more confidently dr with more pleasure told those here who love good music that .they should hear what this man can give in abundance. —C.F.B.