Inspired genius in violin concert

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 20

Inspired genius in violin concert

There are days in the life of a concert-goer | jwhen all the bells ring land colours take on a I new lustre. These are the days when an unheralded and, to him, unknown performer suddenly plays with inspired genius., and what might have been just another trip along aj hum-drum road — or not even that suddenly reveals a vista of an enchanted garden with glimpses of heights from afar. Yesterday was such a day when a recital was given in the Ngaio Marsh Theatre by Mr Jack Glatzer, a visiting American violinist, in the concert series sponsored by the School of Music of the University of Canterbury. Mr Glatzer’s programme was Bartok’s Sonata for solo violin and four Paganini Caprices, also played without any accompaniment. None was needed, for given Mr Glatzer, and a very beautiful violin. magical things very quickly come to blossoming life. The Bartok Sonata — not previously heard — was a sensitively lovely work, full of vibrant human virtues. In four movements it unfolded the experiences of life of a

proud. fierce. but wellordered people with a rich heritage and a present courage. It also was a splendid work for appreciating Nr Glatzer’s stature as a violinist. Every' finely-moulded melody sang with pulsating life in magnificent and smooth tone. Such tone, such and such phrasing come from long and devoted study and hard work. When we occasionally meet it. there is nothing to do but to salute it. When it comes, unexpectedly, it is breathtaking. The Paganini Caprices were played with an ease and grace which mocked their formidable technical difficulties. Under such treatment they came as charming and graceful works, saying little but saying it with a polished suavity. Mr Glatzer will be strongly remembered by those lucky enough to have heard him. He had one strange mannerism: he tapped the main rhythmic beats with his shoe. This, strangely enough, did not have the expected incongruity. although one could have done without it —C. Foster Browne