A CESAR FRANCK RECITAL

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 88, 11 October 1920, Page 8

A CESAR FRANCK RECITAL

The appraisement by tho musical world of tho value of the whale work of any musical composer is, of course an endless process, and even a preliminary estimate of the greatness of his achievement often takes half a century to arrive at. It is, therefore, not at all surprising that although Cesar Franck died thirty years ago there are still thousands of music-lovers to whom his greatest works remain a closed book. Much of Francis's finest work was written for the organ, and in the circumstances mentioned it might have, been expected that some at least of tho European organists would have seized the opportunity to give recitals devoted entirely to his compositions. So far, Wellington probably has the honour of being tho only city in which a Cesar Franck organ recital has yet been given. In presenting such a programme on Saturday night, JS'lr. Page manifestly did not wish to give a demonstration of Franck's versatility in expressing many moods and emotions, although a selection with that object would have been easy to make. The present choice was, as a matter of fact, almost, exclusively from the third period of Franck's work, and tlie first part of the recital was pervaded almost throughout, by the note struck by the opening- phrase "of the initial number, a note subtly compounded of solemnity, majesty, and reverence. The numbers included in this part comprised; Fantaisie in A, Andantinc. in E Flat, Prelude, Fuge, and Variation, a lovely little Lento, and the great Chora! in B Minor: The second part, consisted of a transcription of the wonderful symphonic poem entitled Psyche, the surpassing beauty and charm of which becomes increasingly manifest at eac-k opportunity 01 hearing "it. That Mr, Page's superb playing, and liis rounige in present-ins such a prognimuie in Wellington, are highly appreciated, was shown by the ovation ho received at tho conclusion of each part of the recital.