FAREWELL RECITAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7914, 25 September 1911, Page 1

FAREWELL RECITAL

MR LEONARD BORWICK. For his farewell recital at the TownHall on Saturday evening Mr Leonard Borwick had a large audience. _ The enthusiasm and the deep appreciation of the pianist’s great talent were very marked. Several times Mr Borwick had to bow his acknowledgments. His contributions covered a fairly wide range of composers. Chopin was represented in six items, including the Ballade in A flat. Nocturne in G, tho study in G flat, and a quaint study in E minor. Mr Berwick is undoubtedly a great interpreter of Chopin. Bethoveu’s “Moonlight Sonata” had a- magnificent rendering. Mr Borwick has a marvellous command of tone, and his skill in this respect had no bettor exemplification than in the haunting choral-prelude ("Sleepers Wake”) of Bach. In bis playing of Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody” Air Borwick gave us Liszt—Liszt tho masterful, tho tender, tho passionate. The alternating moods were full of colour and meaning, and no tribute to the pianist’s mechanical and technical skill .would do justice to his consummate art as in _ interpreter of this groat musician. A Giguo in B minor (Graun). a delightful and early cighteenth century composition, and Saint-Saens’ caprice on ballot airs from Gluck's opera "Alccste," tho latter containing some charming effects, wore beautifully rendered. Schubert’s Andante and variations in B flat was also a very fine contribution. Mr Berwick's visit io Wellington will bo long remembered by those who are musical enthusiasts.