KUBELIK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 78, 29 September 1930, Page 7

KUBELIK

Kubelik's recital at the Town Hall vn : Saturday may be described in one word: ; brilliant, in performance and reception. .; The liall was crowded, and even the choir? stalls were packed, and well before the ■ appearance of.Kubelik the audience appear-- ; cd to be simmering with expectancy b£ .-.' how one of the greatest violinists of tliia ' or-any other time would treat the works : set down in his programme. It was ,\ twe-nty years since Kubelik last piayed in : that place, and not only have he and those ] who can recall his playing grown older, ! but much has happened m the world to affect the outlook'of everyone on musical art as on many other things; moreover, a ! generation has arisen that knew nothing i of Kubelik except that he is still a veigu« .;■; ing king among musicians. -,'-.. ,',' • The programme was short but notable, :- and may be given at the outset of this ~-.; notice of the performance. Mendelssohn a -, i "Violin Concerto" in E minor, Saint-. '; Saens's • "Rondo Capriccioso," Wiemaw- •; ski's "Souvenir de Moscou," Paganmia .>. "Campanella," Bach's "Praeludium ; -(tor ■ violin alone), Beethoven's "Romance- in ■ ■ V major, and two short works, Ballade r \ and ''Burlesque," by Kubelik himself, ■..: The concert began With the Concerto. ; ; The superb technique of Kubelik was con- i spieuous immediately the bow touched , strings. The audience listened with rapt ; attention to the masterly exposition of 'the < beauties of the wofk in each successive ; movement, applauding each section vigor- ' ously and the end of the last with doubled vigour. The Concerto is,, of course, farai- ; liar'to-all concert habitues, but Kubelik » ! interpretation was his own, and. it was .; dafmitely intellectual in character. ;The j immense difiiculties of this, as; of othei* : ; works performed, were surmounted. witb. . consummate ease, as one would expeetrof ' \ a . celebrity of Kubelik's high . .standing. ; Virility rather than tenderness appeared, : to be the prominent feature in the. playing of the Concerto, but the,eloquent ap- : peal that it always makes through .the i medium of a truly great artist was apparent on Saturday, and the great eseeutive\difn- \ cultics were, never .at'any time permitted to overcloud its innate melodious beauty. For examples of sheer virtuosity it was a . ; matter of personal choice between"-the ' : "Praeludium," "Campanella," an* 'tha"Souvenir de Moscou." His performance , of all three indelibly stamped Kubelik- as ' a very great master of the violin, but ho seemed to awe rather than enchant his hearers with his wonderful skill, for "it , was an unforgettable experience to watch. , the swift action of the fingers of his'left . hand on the finger-board of his instru- ■-. ment, and the strong, rapid, and certain, movements of his bow upon the strings. The "Romance" was played with; all the [ spiritual force associated with Beethoven, and was as impressive as its performer well -knew how to make it. In the SaintSaens number Kubelik. was obviously- at his. ease for .all the exacting demands.ib makes upon the .violinist, and; the-'extreme-ly varied moods it expresses. It was ■■' throughout a graceful and eminently atris-~:: tic performance. Coming to Kubelik's own. woi'ks, very welcome, inclusions in the programme, they included as an'extra number his "Evening Song." All three were definitely original in conception, individualistic, rich, in melody, and full of intricacies.' Other numbers given by-recall were SehuHfert's - "Aye Maiia," ' " Hubay's "ZephjT," and Schumann's "Abenlied.'?,

Kubelik s playing in general was distinguished by his splendid tone, and its .vivid colour, sure yet delicate .to.uuij. i^^^vly style, .and,, above ally, his .liazil;:. •;.vl,.:';l'nique.' M. Otto Hasa pr.ovea'.is-i'aluablaj and helpful accompanist, but hi 3 piayiug in the "Aye Maria" might hare been a little less i-obust with' advantage-- to- M. Kubelik. M. Hasa's part iii the Gcncerto ■was played as by a master of the. pianoforte. . ' , /.• :;

. Applause. ivas. vigorous andl iliearty, betokenihg. keen appreciation of every num. ber played; varied as,the1 programme was. Kubelik was presented with a laurel wreath and a bouquet from admirers, homage, that was graciously received.1 ; .Her Excellency Lady Bledisloe and)a party from Government House were.pre* sent. .' '■;■.••

. Kubelik will give his second concert in 'the Town Hall next Wednesday evening, in the presence of.- Their.-Excellencies Lord and Lady Bledisloe. The programmes includes Paganini's \_dazzliugly.r-brilliant "Concerto" in D major., also ''Concerto" (Max'Bruch)/ "Romance" (Mozart), "Gavotte" (Bach), "Hayanaise" (Saint-Saens), "Andante" . (Kubelik), and numbers hy Sarasate, and Schumann. In response "to many, requests, Schubert's "Aye Maria'"' will be repeated as aa encore. The-fare* well concert will. take place !on Saturday .night. ■ ■ ' _^ .'..; . " ; ;:.' -