LEONARD BORWICK RECITALS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1235, 18 September 1911, Page 7

LEONARD BORWICK RECITALS.

Tin: ART OF A GREAT PIANIST. Perilnps the most significant feature of the art of iilr. Leonard ISnrwirlt, pnetpianist, whoso second recital was given in the Town Hall uu i-'nturday evening, is its influence upon the memory of the listener. By comparison with the impressions gathered from the concert programmes of other well-known and liiglil.vdistinguished of our contemporaiy musicians, this attribute still remains ill the exclusive posie.-sion of ■ Jlr. liorwick— speaking, of course, from our own impressions of those virtuo.-i who have visited New Zealand at various times in the past. While men liko Jlark Ilambourg, ivubelik, I'aderewski, were, in every sense of the word, masters of their respective instruments—and of their composers— their individual personality—personal magnetism if you like—and their amazing technique attracted to their brilliant performances tin; whole admiration of audiences. so obsessed of their remarkable achievements that the original genius— the genius of the composer—was overshadowed. This observation is in 110 sense of tho word to be regarded as adventitious disparagement employed for the exploitation of a genius of an altogether different type. But the difference between a musician whose individuality is sd strongly marked that his interpretations aro strikingly characteristic of "himself, and one who so subordinates his own personality that the soul of tho composer shines through, is sufficiently great to induce widely different impressions of their respective recitals, and to be noted accordingly. In tho former easo the impressions aro concerned with the musician himself: in tho lattc, with tho respective qualities of the music of the several composers from whose works the musician lias selected his programme; Tho ability to completely invest oneself witli the ideals of the composer is so Tare that its possession has made Jlr. Borwiek famous. That Ins technique is beyond criticism is an indisputable corollary to the opinions formed of his interpretations.

Saturday's"concert was a memorable event. Bach's "Fantasia in C Jlinor," Chopin's "Funeral Jfarch" Sonata in B Flat Jlinor, ' Schumann's "Aufschwung," aud "Eomance No. 2" (in F Sharp Jlajor), three album leaves from Jlcndelssohn, and Liszt's "Rhapsodic Ilongroiso" (No. 12) may be selected from tho programme as demonstrating Jlr. Borwick's excellcnce as a medium for the expression of the ideas of his composers. Chopin's cliaractcristic harmonies and dramatic octaves, the . fiery splendour of his bass, were most admirably expressed by the pianist in the four movements of tho "Funeral Jlarch" Sonata, especially in tho "Scherzo" and "Jlarcho Funebre" movements. The contrast between . this number and tho melodious selections from Jlcndelssohu was as tho contrast between tragic night and a clear spring morning, and exemplified tho contrast in the temperaments of tho respective composers. Tho Jlcndelssohu . bracket included his "Etude in B Flat Minor," th? fifth "Lied Ohne Worte" (F. Sharp Jlinor), •in Book I. and a characteristic pieco in A Major (Op. 7, No. b), tho last-named being repeated in response to an insistent recall. Sgambati's Gavotte in A Flat Minor, by tho way, was added as an encore ' item at the conclusion of tho Chopin Sonata. The Bach Fantasia, as interpreted by Mr. Borwick, was a revelation to many who in tho past have found the master of masters beyond their un-' dcrstanding Other items on the programme included'. "Los Barricades Jtysterieuscs" (Couperin); an "Arietta" of Leonard Leo's; Saint-Saens' "Caprice." from tho ballet airs in Gluck's ".Jlcoste"; Dabussy's "Toccata" in C Sharp Jlinor; a delightful "Jleiwot a l'antique" of Sgambati's; and a Liszt number—"Soirco do Vienne" (founded on some of. Schubert's waltz melodies.

TJio public will bo glad to hear that in consequenco -of a rearrangement of Mr. Borwick's Auckland engagements, lis will be able to give a third concert at tho Town Kali in Wellington on Saturday evening next. Among the it-ems on the programme for the next recital are Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata, Chopin's favduritc' "Polonaise in A i'lat," Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsodic," and the Sclw-bert-'l'nusig "Marcho Militaire." The Steinway concert grand, which is used by Mr. Leonard Borwick at. his Wellington recitals in the Town Hall, is supplied by tho Dresden Piano Company, solo agents.