NOTABLE RECITAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23830, 4 December 1940, Page 12

NOTABLE RECITAL

VISIT OF POLISH PIANIST The eminent Polish pianist, Tgnaz Friedman, was greeted by a very large audience which filled the Town Rail night for his pianoforte recital. .Mr. Friedman is reputed to he one of the greatest living exponents of Chopin's music, but. his playing last night revealed that lie has complete mastery not only over this composer's works but also over those of the other composers whoso works appeared in his programme. Mr. Friedman's opening number was the "Twenty-four Variations and r'ugue on a Theme by Handel,'' by Brahms. Here he immediately displayed the dynamic power and superb technique that were so much in evidence throughout, the programme. All the variations, from those in quiet vein to the tumultuous one which concludes this great work, were skilfully knit together, and rounded off with the magnificently played Fugue. Brahms' arrangement of the Gavotte by Cluck was the encore. For his Chopin group Mr. Friedman selected two Ma/.iirkils, in C Sharp Minor and B Flat Minor, and two raises in A Flat and F Minor. Mis conception of all these was an individual one. The second half of the programme opened with three of Mr, Friedman's own compositions, a graceful prelude and two charmingly light pieces. Paderewski'.s "Cracovienne Fantaslirpie" and Liszt's "Yenczia e Xapnli" concluded the programme, the latter work allowing full play for the artist's brilliant technic®! execution.