A CLEVER PIANIST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 July 1924, Page 4

A CLEVER PIANIST.

MISS MATDA HOOKER’S RECITAL. \A hen Miss Maida Hooker went to Sydney to study at the Conservatorium some tour years ago she showed great promise, ami Air Frank Hutchens expressed the opinion that she had a talent which he thought would develop rapidly-’under expert training. In the eight months which she spent in Sydney she made great progress, and when she returned to New Zealand she gave a very interesting recital at St. Mary’s Hall. A few weeks later Afiss Hooker left for London to continue her studies. Last evening a Hawera audience had the opportunity of hearing Miss Hooker in her first recital in New Zealand since her return from Knghimd. The audience gave the pianist a splendid welcome. Miss Hooker has gained a fine technique, which proved quite adequate for the heavy programme she had selected, but she has done moire —she has developed a high appi eeiat-ion and thorough uiiderstandmg of the composers’, wishes, so that she is able to present to her audience raie gifts, which live in the memory long after the vibrations of the* instrument have ceased. That is true art, and Miss Hooker proved fully last evening that she is far above the “good p ayeir” standard, and has reached the plane where artists are to be found Her technique was at all times kept'in its place—the means through which to express her thoughts. Faeh note played had its proper place and meaning" in he t r beautiful pictures, and behind the playing .was the mind, deciding what was wanted, aiid completely controlling the means by which it was to be obtained.

The programme opened with a- group of compositions by Bach in various styles, the first- being a gavotte from violin sonata. The item called for and received careful treatment and clear phrasing by each hand in turn. The ~o i\ tlle " rou P, ‘‘Prelude in B-Jlat,” is of the character of a fugue and requires much thought, so that the grading up to the climaxes is well managed. Miss Hooker was most successful in this'item. The third and louirth of the group were the bright and sparkling “Gavotte and Musette I' 1 ,D Minor” and the merry “Gigiie in G, both played with ease and m the right spirit. The next pianofore number was Chopin’s Ballade in G' minor, s , o ‘ weli known, perhaps, as the Ballade in A flat, but full of interest. Aliss Hooker showed the wonderful efrect of a well-judged ruhato in the lust section, while her treatment of the pianissimo passage (ineno mosso) was excellent. The subject is repeated, and then works up to the fortissimo passage with heavy left-hand chords, while the right, hand gives out its message m octaves and octave scales, leading to increasingly rapid movements, then returning to the opening subject., leading up to a characteristic passage or descending sixths and on to the presto, played ■ fortissimo and drawing to its conclusion with loud descending octaves, aceellerando for both hands. The ballade was the greatest test on the programme, and Miss Hooker showed that she. had not only complete mastery of its many technical difficulties, but had an etxeeilent conception of the composer’s meaning. To the demand, for an encore she responded with a Brahms waltz, daintlv played. r llio next- pianoforte group consisted of three items widely different in form. Aledtner’s Fairy Tale was full cf rapid movements, which presented no difficulty to Miss Hooker. This was followed by the, Chopin Nocturne (op. 15 No. 2), in which rubato was used in excellent taste in' cue first and -finalsections. The middle section (doppio movimento) gave- scope for some hue colouring, the accented notes being brought out clearly above the others. M* a very attractive (rendering, ihe third item in the group was a Rhapsody in C major (Dohuanyi), a composition abounding with heavy chords and difficult arpeggios, fuiL cf fire and life. As an encore Miss Hooker played Lavallee’s “Papillons,” a dainty little number. Scnumann, Brahms and Debussy were brought together in the next pianoforte group, the Kreisleriana (Nos. 6 and 7) were diametrically opposite in character, the first pensive and passionate; the second bright and light. Brahms’ Uaprieeio in B minor was treated elegantly and Debussy’s “Gardens in the Rani” served to show the effect of proper rhythm. Miss HooTter’s final programme number was Litzt’s Rhapsody No. 10, in which the folk song was proclaimed with clarity and precision, followed by little melodies linked up by ghssandos, and ending with a heavy octave passage typical, of Liszt’s climaxes. Aiiss Hooker received the warmest applause at' the conclusion, and responded with Poldini’s ‘‘Dust,!’ and m response to a further demand she playea Rachmaninoff's “Prelude in G minor.”

Assisting Miss Hooker were Miss E. Webb-Jones and Mr W. Hutchens. Miss TV ebb-Jones possesses a sweet soprano voice which should be capable of greater development. She appeared to be a. little nervous at first, but as this wore off her singing improved. Her songs were “My Mother- Bids Me Bind my Hair” (Haydn), and “I Know How to Tie Ribbon Bows” (Dourlens). The latter song was sung with good expression., and the singer responded to the demand for an encore. In the second part- Miss Webb-Jones sang Robandi’s “Alla Stella Confidante” (with violin accompaniment by Mr Hutchens), and had to respond to another encore. Mr Hutcliens has foi* years past been a favourite with Hawera audiences, and he was warmly welcomed on his reappearance. His first programme items were “Where’er You Walk” (Handel), and “Who is Sylvia?” (Schubert), in both of which he was very successful, adding as an encore an old English song by Purcell (“Passing By”). In the second half Mg Hutchens sang John Ireland’s ‘‘Sea. Fever” and Coleridge Taylor’s “Five and Twenty Sailormen.” entering fully into the spirit of both songs, which so pleased the audience that an encore was demanded, and Mr Hutchens sang the “Wind Song” (Rogers). Mrs Tarrant played with taste and expression the accompaniments for Miss Webb-Jones and Mr Hutchens. The recital was full of interest, especially to those who have followed Miss Hooker’s progress in her art, and she fully deserved the congratulations winch, her friends offered at the end of the evening. Among those who expressed thc-ir delight at Miss Hooker’s success was Mr Will Hutchens, who said that cue notable feature of her playing was the ease with which she played the heaviest passages, and, moreover, she showed that she had a definite conception of the music which she T)layed. He was delighted with her work.