ME. PARKER'S EVENINGS WITH COMPOSERS.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1898, Page 2

ME. PARKER'S EVENINGS WITH COMPOSERS.

♦ The masters chosen by Mr. Parker for the third of his delightful series of chamber concerts, which was given last night, were Beethoven and Schubert, with whom we passed even in the world of music into the new age of passions and emotions stirred by the great French Revolution. In his short introductory sketch Mr. Parker outlined tho life of Beethoven, laying particular stress upon his manly independence,which at times to positive rudeness, and his absence of mind and terrible deafuess. He quoted two criticisms from 'Rubinstein and Hubert Parry to show the great master's place in the gallei\y of musicians. The ■econd quotation instituted a comparison between Beethoven the independent, frequenter of courts, and Schubert, the child of the people, seizing his inspiration from peasants and gipsies. Of the items illustrative of Beethoven, perhaps the best rendered and most enjoyable was the trio in G Major of Op. 1, one of the three early trios of 1795. The performers were Herr Max Hoppe (violin), Mr. S. E. Kennedy ('cello), and Mr. Parker (piano). Other selections were the Sonata in 1) Major (Op. 10, No. 3), sympathetically played by Miss Barber; and a little known but charming song, "Contrition," sung by Dr. Fyff e, who also gave " Tears of Love." Herr Hoppe also contributed to the first part a romance for the violin in F major. Tne Schubert selections did not seem so distinctly characteristic of his composer as Mr. Parker's choice generally is, but doubtless) this was largely due to his endeavour to avoid repitition. The Sonata for the violin and pianoforte (Op. 147) by Herr Hoppe and Mr. Parker was the chief feature of the second part. Two of the four-handed selections composed for Count Esterhazy's daughter were appreciatively played by Misses Kettle and Joan Parker. Dr. Fyffe sang " Evening Breezes Gently Stealing ;" Miss L. Tolhurst, " The Brook's Lullaby " aud " Cradle Song;" Miss Salmon, with power and expression, " Whither " and " Boat Song." Mr. Douglas Jackson's voice appeared to good purpose in "The Inquirer" and " Impatience." Excellent as are the scheme and arrangement of these concerts, there is too much for one evening both for the performers and the audience in the attempt to interpret even in outline , two such masters as Beethoven and Schubert,