ISADOR GOODMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 57, 5 September 1945, Page 9

ISADOR GOODMAN

CONCERT YIELDS £1020 FOR

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

; Isador Goodman's final appearance in Wellington last night as solo pianist was a triumph both artistically and from the point of view of the principal purpose .of the concert—the swelling of the local patriotic fund. By special arrangement with Mr. Goodman, the profits are being devoted to the funds of the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee, which organised the concert as a victory celebration. It was announced that the proceeds amount to £1020. As at Mr. Goodman's earlier recitals, the main Town Hall was crowded to the doors. The Governor-General and Lady Newall and party were present. Mr. Goodman divided his programme into three. The rcheduled items were the Bach-Liszt Organ Prelude . and Fugue in A Minor, Brahms's: Variations'on a Theme by Paganini, and a group of Chopin numbers —Ballad in A. Flat Major, three Etudes from Op. 25 (Nos. 1, in A Flat Major, No. 2 in F Minoi\ «nd No. 3 in F Major), and Scherzo in C Sharp Minor. From a tray of request letters members of the audience made a number of selections, and so the second part of the evening comprised the Bach Chorale, "Fortify Us With Thy Grace," Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata, "Claire de Luhe" " (Debussy), Liszt's "Rigoletto" paraphrase, the Ravel "Bolero," and Liszt's "Sixth Hungarian Rhapsody," with "Lacampanella" as an encore. Finally, as a "surprise," Mr. Goodman accepted a 10-bar theme written down by a member of the audience, and made from it a brilliant four-minute improvisation, a feat which, achieved an ovation for the performer^ The whole programme served- once more to demonstrate Mr. Goodman's 'complete artistry and versatility, and the strength and yet the delicacy of.his playing. The two opening items in themselves were sufficient assurances of his perfection of technique and maturity as an interpreter of fine pianoforte music. An outstanding impression of the Brahms variations was his power, varied to a delightful crispness, in the left hand. Mr. Goodman was deservedly applauded after 6a.cß offering, and the audience was unrestrained in its warmth at the close.

A cheque for the amount of the proceeds was formally presented to the Mayor (Mr. Appleton) at the conclusion- of the recital by Mr.'Leyitoff, impresario. Accepting it as chairman 'of- the1' epmmittee' of ;' the • fund/ Mr. Appleton .said he.- felt rather.,overwneTme'd" at" the wbnderfurresp6ris"e to the concert both by- -Mr.-- Goodman and the general public, and on behalf of the citizens he thanked the pianist for his. generosity and for the musical treat he had given them. Acknowledging the cheque, Mr. Vincent Ward, secretary of the Patriotic Fund Committee, said they had set out to obtain £73,000 and he only wished they had had Mr. Goodman's seiArices at 73 concerts.

Mr. Goodman said his effort had been a meagre one—the least he could do in response to the warmth of enthusiasm with which he had been received in Wellington and which had increased his affection for. New Zealand. He had made so many friends here that he was reluctant to leave, but he was very keen to return,, and he hoped to do so as soon as possible.