ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 139, 11 December 1908, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

♦ - THE CIIEENIAVSKI CONCERT. The fame of tho Chekniavski brothers nad preceded them, and their first recital, which was given in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last evening, had been looked forward to with no little interest. Portraits had sufficiently emphasised the youth of the performeis — the youngest, Mischel, is a mere boy — but li any present anticipated that allowance would have to be made on that score, they were not long in altering their opinion. The first item was a trio, violin, violoncello, and pianoforte (Mendelssohn), and certainly exhibited no immaturity of execution. The theme was well distributed among the instruments, and each of the three pei formers manifested extraordinary musical talent and. finished technique. The subject, was well fitted to display the sympathetic quality of the artists, for Mendelssohn is a composer whose subtle melodies and rich harmonies call for refined and delicate interpietation. The piece was received witli a tempest of applause, and tho audience was not even content with one encore, nut demanded a second. The violoncello solo by Mi. c ehel, the youngest of the group, was Popper's ''Hungarian Rhapsody," full of wild weird passages, which were ! interpreted with skill and expression. This lad has the soul of music within i him. and tales his art very seriously. His performance evoked another demonstration of -enthusiasm and an encore. [ Jan Cherniavski's pianoforte solo — th.ernes from "Rigoletto" transxiibed by Liszt, was a really marvellous piece ox execution, full of such Inti'ieale runs and tremendous crashes of harmony as to be apparently beyond tho capacity of a singlo pair of hands ; but the performer was never for a moment at S.iult.. In the hands of any but a finished artist, the chief effect of such a piece, so rapidly played, would have been noise ; but through all their complex embellishments and variations the melodies could be followed with all their due expression. Of the three, he is the only ont who shows any kind <»f trick of manner. His style "at the instrument is anything but lepcscful — he hti& a way of markinjr emjjhasia by move-

menta of his head and body ; a habit which he woiild^ do well to overcome ; for though his interpretation does not suffer, an appeal to the eye, by dividing attention, detracts from the effect on the ear. There was the inevitable encore, and a lighter piece was naturally chosen, for the mere physical effort of the solo must have been a severe tax upon the player. Leo, the eldest of the three, M'hoya instrumenti is the violin, took for flha btibject of his solo the first part of Techaikowski's Concerto, a very modern piece of music, abounding in difficulties insuperable to the average player, and apparently almost exhausting the capacities of the instrument. Hut ko com plctc was- the musician's mastery of his instrument, and so perfect his technique" 'hat he seemed able to pay undivided attention to the music itself and itp expression, arid almost astounding effects wero produced apparently without effort. The audience had by this time been worked up to a great pitch of enthusiasm, and in answer to a. unaniruous encoro, the violinist gave a. delightful little dance, melody. For the closing item, thera were two biacketed trios— a. "Serenade" (Widor), and Schubeit'p "Moment Musical." As in the opening number, the effects, wero ilmosf- orchestral, each of the- three musicians bringing out to the full the powers of his instrument, and all so fully saturated with 'the spirit of the theme that tho three played as oue. Assistance, ivas given by two votalists, whose songs contributed! greatly to the enjoyment of ,the audiente. Madame Marie Hooton is not a stranger--to our city, and was highly appreciated on the occasion of her former visit. Her specialty is old-fashioned English ballads, which she sings with c'narming expression and effect. Last night- she .gave "Golclen Slumbers," "The Poor Couple," "Daisies," "On a January Morning," and "Gossip Joan," two of these being encores. , Mr. Percival Driver is a baritone, with a fine and cultivated voice. He- song "Glorious Devon," "The Little Irish Girl," "Simon the Cellarer," and "Because." In two of the. "songs he' was his own accompanist. In. each case the ballad was given with sympathy ! .and effect^ and ib is not often that . "Simon the Cellarer" is so well sung. He was encored on each appearance. The second recital — which no musiclover should miss — will bo given this ■ evening.