PIANIST HONOURED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 253, 22 July 1936, Page 5

PIANIST HONOURED

Complimentary Concert To Paul Vinogradoff GRIEG AND GLAZOUNOV CONCERTOS As it turned out, the Wellington weather last evening was m no mood to be complimentary to anyone, so I’aul Vinogradoff, the Russian pianist, who was being tendered a complimentary concert had perforce to suffer. Still, it was an exceedingly gracious gesture on the part of Mr. Leon de Mauuy and the Symphony Orchestra to offer him this compliment by way of farewell, and it is gratifying to know that those brave music-lovers who did face the bitter blast to visit the Concert Chamber were amply repaid for the effort. The programme consisted of two pianoforte concertos—the Glasounov in F minor and the Grieg in A Minor —the “Rienzi” (Wagner) overture for orchestra, and a bracket of pianoforte pieces of the greatest interest. , . , . Interest naturally combined m the concertos. Both have been played by Mr. Vinogradoff before in Wellington, but that is rather an advantage than otherwise to the public, which is able to appreciate such glorious works with keener zest when the music Is more or less familiar. That applied particularly to the Glazounov concerto in which the opulence in harmonic beauty and mobility o. structure is matched’ by the dazzling invention which characterises, the second part —nine variations of a sprightly theme, in which the orchestral leads almost share the honours with the solo pianist. It was a "little unfortunate that Mr. Vinogradoff suffered a lapse of memory toward the end of this concerto, but on the movement being repeated it was played as smoothly as silk. „ . It was, however, in the Grieg concerto that the soloist really came into his own. Mr. Vinogradoff plays, this work with singular charm and brilliance, and at its conclusion last evening he was. accorded a well-deserved ovation. There is infinite variety of expression demanded, delicacy of touch, a wealth of modulation, and dynamic force (as in the stirring andante maestoso), and in each instance he was equal to the call. The orchestra, too, did excellent work, in both concertos, and it, too, was at its best in the Grieg. Mr. Leon de Manny, who conducted, controlled his orchestra of 35 pieces with authority. The baud also gave a very good reading of the martial overture . to “Rienzi.” This overture calls for important work from the brass section, which was notably satisfactory. Mr. Vinogradoff, in lighter vein, played such distracting gems for the pianoforte as Schubert’s “Moment Musicale, Schumann’s “Why?”, Chopin’s “Waltz in G Flat,” Debussy’s “Submerged Cathedral,” Ravel’s ‘‘Jeux d’eau,” Scott’s “Souvenir de Vienne,” a Tschaikowsky “Nocturne,” two of his own clever “Preludes,” and Scriabin's “Poem” and “Study in D Sharp.” Here was colour, variety and a world of exquisite fancy to cram into twenty minutes, but the pianist sustained his spell throughout the long bracket. Mr. Vinogradoff is to. tour New Zealand next month, anil will leave for Australia in September.