NIEDZIELSKI

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 15

NIEDZIELSKI

Second Recital In City Niedzielski gave his second cencert in the Majestic Theatre last evening. It should long be remembered by its hearers for his wonderful display of technical virtuosity allied to sensibility in interpretation. It was a long and testing programme, but Niedzielski seemed just as fresh at the end as when he began the programme with a pearly rendering of Schumann's Arabesque, Op. 18. He followed this with a stirring performance of "Camaval” in which his prodigious technical powers and lively imagination made each scene a jewel in a perfect setting. A Chopin group consisting of the Mazurka in C sharp minor, the Nocturne in C minor, the Scherzo in B minor and the posthumous Waltz in E minor, were all exquisitely played, but special mention must be made of the intense power, anguish, and tenderness which Niedzielski drew from the Nocturne and the Scherzo. They were intensely moving performances.

In the second half of the programme Ravel's “Alborada del Gracioso” and the “Ritual Fire Dance” of de Falla pa nted vivid pictures full of the bright colour of Spanish life as expressed in the more violent type of dance. Percussive rhythms, flashing swirls, and mysterious singing melodies suggested the life of the Spanish countryside. As a telling contrast to this, Federico Mompou's delightful suite “The Suburbs" gave us a picture in pastel colours of another side of Spanish life Here we could rest in the shade while one who deeply loves his country showed us transparencies chosen with sensitively artistic judgment. His pictures come to life with shrewd economy of line and colour, but they make a deep impression. In Mompou’s pictures there is nothing put on for the tourist. They are thoroughly honest and authentic. Immediately after all these works which had so much appeal to the imagination. Niedzielski ended his programme with Liszt's Sonata in B minor. Niedzielski is a very great interpreter of Liszt. He has a technique which can master all the difficulties with consummate ease. There was nothing wrong with his performance, but one listener, at least, had a long-standing impression confirmed that Liszt is nearly always a crashing bore and a vulgar one to boot. C.F.B.