SCHNABEL’S PLAYING

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 184, 2 May 1933, Page 2

SCHNABEL’S PLAYING

An Apostle of Beethoven

EMOTIONAL TEACHER The name of Arthur Schnabel, possibly the greatest exponent of Beethoven on the pianoforte of the present age, is not very well known in New Zealand. For years, however, his has been a name to conjure with in Berlin, and for from fifteen to twenty years he has been a prominent pedagogue, at the Berlin State. Conservator!um. Now’ he is hailed as the successor to Busoni and Lamond, and, possibly, is greater than either of those eminent artists and devotees of Beethoven. Miss Marie Moffatt, the brilliant pianist, had a quarter’s tuition under Schnabel in Berlin last-year. She was greatly impressed with the man and his methods, and though lie was very expensive—with the exchange the term’s fees worked out to about £4o—- — would have continued but for the political upheaval in Germany, and the rioting in the streets of Berlin. Miss Moffatt said that people should not lie misled by some catalogue photographs of Schnabel, which depicted him as a fairly young man. He was 51 years of-age, and his hair was snow white. He was a wonderful player—so strongly emotional, that there were times, at the end of a heavy programme, when he had to be assisted from the platform, which appeared ;o indicate that he was not a Hercules physically. “Of course you know he sent London mad the last season,” said Miss Moffatt. “His all-Beethoven recitals fit the Queen’s Hall were a revelation of the man’s amazing artistry, and he was a subject of adoration. I will never forget his playing of the “Emperor’ concerto I He expects all his pupils to worship Beethoven, and to learn the whole of the sonatas. Being emotional himself, he recognises mood in others. If the student does not feel like playing at lesson time, and says so, Schnabel does not insist, but fills in the time in explaining and demonstrating in a very engaging manner.”

Miss Moffatt also studied under Professor Archibald Rosenthal, of Trinity College (cousin of the mercurial Morir Rosenthal), both charming people. Professor Archibald learned the piano from a student of Chopin, while Morir actually studied under Joseffy and Liszt.