THE CHERNIAVSKIS.

Evening Star, Issue 13145, 29 December 1908, Page 6

THE CHERNIAVSKIS.

The third Cherniavski conceit, given in the Garrison Hull last night, was another triumph. The "talent, technique, and temperament of these three wonderful brothers took the audience completely by; storm. Last night's programme opened with a trio by Arensky, a composer who, while not ranking with tlte first flight., stands well up in the second rank among such writeis of chamber music as Fesca and Reissiger. This proved a very interesting and moving work, and its melancholy mood was re> fleeted in a manner extraordinary for boy.s so young, for it seems almost inconceivable that the expression of wich feeling could Qow from anything else than the actual experience of suffering. The first movement gradually subsides horn brave resistance to fate, and dies away in a tender and plaintiff theme, which Mischel's 'cello in particular made eloquent and almost articulate. The succeeding slow movement was almost funereal in its passive resignation, and the last movement, very brief, pictured despair, turbulent, and almost frenzied. The only drawback to an inspirational interpretation was that sometimes in the intricate forte passages the ensemble suffered tlirough the echo of the big hall (of which the galleries were closed to the audience) causing some indistinctness; and the change of locale to the Burns; Hall for the three succeeding concerts should prove a wise move. The other trios came at the end of the programme. They were an arrangement by Cherniavski pere of the Hebrew melody ' Kol Nidrei,' and, as a contrast to th» beautiful lament, one of Greig's riotous Norwegian dances, to dissipate the melancliolj-, and send the audience home cheerful. And if the trios were a revelation, no less astounding were the solo performances. Leo chose as his violin solo a concerto of Paganini. The composer's name sufficiently indicates the nature of the music—almost diobolic in its demands on the resources of both instrument and performer. Leo's rendering was a tour de force, beggaring description. His encore number was a quaint old minuet, most daintily played. The delighted and still unsatisfied" audience were only quieted when he returned and gave another encore number, a ' Bagatelle.' Little Misphel fairly excelled himself in a violoncello concerto (or one movement therefrom) by that most felicitous- composer for the 'cello, Goltermann. His line sonorous tone, his finished execution, and his surprisingly matured reading made one wonder whiit limit there will be to his powers in years to come. One striking feature of Misuhel's execution in this piece was the flawlossness of his octave playing, and 'cello plajens will know what this, means. A poetic rendering of ' Le Cygne' was ihe response to an unavoidable encore. Jau, tho pianist, showed in his solo work that lie is a real interpreter of Chopin. The soothing 'Berceuse' with which he opened was followed by the tremendous polonaise which many great visiting pianiste have familiarised us with. Jan put all the power of his lithe body into it, and made of it a tornado of sound. The work of hie left hand, especially in tlie rapid staccato octave passage' down four notes of the scale, reiterated in a steady crescendo, was most noticeable. Breathless aiid overwhelmed almtst as the performer, the audience, oblivious to Jan's possible exhaustion after such a task, sought more, ;uid were accommodated with a fragment by way of encore. The assisting vocalists, Madame Mario Hooton and Mr Percival Driver, shared in the succor of wliat was undeniably one of the most enthusiastic concerts that can be recalled to memory, for both were encored on each appearance. The contralto's 6ongs were mostly the English ballads she sings so well—' Daisies,' ' 1 wonder,' ' The barley straw,' and a ' Lullaby.' Mr Driver also gave two old English ballads—' Glorious Devon' (a crisp, stirring performance) and 'The pretty, pretty creature'—as well as two others of\ the better type of drawingroom ballad ' Love's coronation' and 'Because'—in which he was just, as successful. Besides this he provided most of the pianoforte accompaniments to the songs. Three more Cherniavski recitals are to bo given in the Bums Hall, to-night, Friday, and Saturday. To-night's programme includes a Beethoven trio.