CHERNIAVSKY CONCERTS

Evening Star, Issue 18784, 7 November 1924, Page 2

CHERNIAVSKY CONCERTS

NOBLE MUSIO, WELL PLAYED. Tho second concert of the Clieniia.}| leys’ Dunedin season, at Bunns Hall last night, opened with Mendelssohn’s trio in C minor for piano, violin, and ’cello. Three movements worn set down in the programme, and their performance caused an undeniable encore, wRh tho result that the missed-put scherzo of tho trio was added. So the audience had more than half an hour of Mendelssohn, and, though tho trio is not as a whole tho Mendelssohn music of the best known or more popular form—llio allegro appassionato and the scherzo being restless and broken up, therefore not easy of appreciation except after study—tho listeners as a body gave it earnest and thankful attention from first to last, and then broke out in thunderous applause. Such results stand as evidence of masterly playing. It was noted with pleasure that the opening movement was invested with all the stipulated energy and fire without any galloping or befogging rush. Every idea was developed with lime clarity. The andante theme was charmingly stated by Jan on the piano, and mutually developed with beautiful expression, though hero and there the ’cello slightly outbalanced tho violin in their conversations.

Mischel once more pleased the audience very much with his solos. The Jtoppcc romance was a remarkable study m tone color; Herbert’s serenade served to show tho player’s resource in technique; the berceuse of MischeTs own composing was marked bv refinement without weakness; Topper's 5 Butterfly ’ was the medium of some marvellous bowing; and the audience went into raptures over the encore presentation of the Beethoven minuet, this being singularly chaste and technically flawless.

Jan had a tremendous night’s work at the piano. Though “on ” for every item on the two hours’ programme, he never for a moment became physically or intellectually relaxed. His doings in _ the ‘ Appa-ssionata Sonata ’ satisfied tho critics and pleased everybody. The native greatness of the allegro movement was brought out with ns much power as Mark Hambourg used to employ, and every idea was developed with tho surest definition. The presto, also, was given its true value musically, and not, as is sometimes tho case with fast movements, made a mere exhibition of racing fingerwork. Jan followed up this triumph by playmg with amazing cleverness the gavotte by Stavenhagen, making this ono of the gems of the evening. Leo was again in good form on the violin. His principal solo was Lab’s ‘ Symphonic Espegmole.’ A musician of lower rank might be tempted to use this symphony for show-off in tho piling up of embellishment. Mr Chernuivsky rose above that decoy. Much of tbo beauty of 1 1 is plaving came from his restraint —his fidelity to the composer. It was a most worthy performance, ablaze with warmth and color, but never riotous. His encoro piece was tho Spanish serenade by Chaminade as transcribed by Kreisler. The third concert is announced for tonight. Tho opening trio is by Tschaikowsk'v, and the spring -song by Mendelssohn is’on the latter end of the programme, t is a popular bill.