LEONARD BORWICK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1232, 14 September 1911, Page 6

LEONARD BORWICK.

A GREAT ENGLISH PIANIST. Let there bo no mistake or misundcN standing—Leonard Borwick is a great Sialiist. Probably not teiyin a liuurcd have over heard of him before, and if asked to name the greatest pianist alive would probably name one of tho artists who have visited Wellington comparatively recently.- That would simply be because they did not know. An artist may be great in one particular lino, ho may excel in the performance of tho works of one particular composer, or his technique might bo something to marvel at—artistic greatness has bo many aspects that it is foolish extravaganco for anyone to pick an artist out and say: This is the greatest of them all! Leonard Berwick's position in the artistic" world is unassailable—he is accepted in Germany, Austria, France, ana England as nuioiiK the finest exponents of the pianoforte living, and as an interpreter of the works of Liszt knows no compeer in any country. Without any great flourish of trumpets Mr. Borwick arrived in Wellingtbn yesterday from Australia, where his performances have created much enthusiasm among the musical, lie impresses one as a man whom to know is immediately to liko and respect, and in whom one at once detects the innate refinement which shines through his work at,the pianoforte.' He speaks of Madamo Schumann, his honoured teacher:—"She was a great woman—it is seldom you get both the power to impart and a great player in tho ono person, but you had it in pcrfec-. tion in Madamo Schumann. It •was throug/li her I went to study at Frankfort. She heard me play in London—l thought I was n. very clever player myself, and she evidently saw that I had some- facility. I was placed in tho preliminary class under Madamo's sister, but beforo tho first year had closed I waa under Madame's personal tuition. What a woman—what k system! She just carried one on—step by step—explaining tho why of this or that in technique, and tho beauty and meaning of every part of caoh work until its very soul stood rovcaled. I suppose I was an apt pupil. I mado my debut in Frankfort, and was successful—that was v in 1889. The. following year I went to Vienna, and there played a Brahms Concerto beforo Brahms, Looking back now it scorns a big task to have attempted—certainly bigger than it was to mo at the time. I did not fool at all nervous—youth is so arrog-ant. ■ Afterwards I dined with Brahms and others. Ho did not say much—he was not a talkative man, but let drop just a word or two which were very encouraging. I know, too, that he wrote to Madame Schumann something kind about my playing. "Since then I have played all over Europe, but mostly in Germany. Germany is so musical, iiach city has its own musical centre, its own orchestra, and it understands. In England oven to-day wo haven't got much outsido of London— elsewhere music is a struggle and tho orchestras aro not. Wo O'crtuaus aro very appreciative, and wo get on well together. "Australia—l cannot speak too highly of my treatment there. They aro so warm, so sympathetic, always. 1 sometimes think that it was unwiso to move about as I did so much, as after one or two concerts there was a certain enthusiasm which waa gratifying—then 1 would have to leave, to come back again at another time. But the audiences wero fine—l fancy Melbourne warmed a little quicker than Sydney. I fancy that is duo to a quicker artistic perception, born of a more forward stalo musically, which, I think, ia largely <luo to the presence there of Professor Marshall-Hall. -There is a man with high ideals, aud ono of those strong personalities which mean so much in music. What I mean to convey is that Professor Marshall-Hall is a man who. would become eminent anywherG, and it is Melbourne's good fortuuo to havo socured him. Sydney could do with anothor Marshall-Hall." On the conclusion of his New Zealand tour, Mr. Leonard Borwick leaves for America, via Honolulu (where a recital will bo given). His lour through America Trill be his first visit to tho States, and no is looking forward to it with a deal of pleasure. Tho world's tour is being managed by the Quintan International Musical Agency. Mr, Borwick's first recital will be given at tho Town Hall this evening.'