A GREAT PIANIST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13891, 1 May 1907, Page 7

A GREAT PIANIST.

'COMING VISIT OF MADAME CARRENO. After an absence of four years Hcrr Benno Schcrek, the woll-lnicnni and popular pianist and impressario, relumed lo Dunodin on Monday, to make arrangements for the promised visit of Madamo Teresa Carreno,. tho celebrated pianist. Hcrr Scherck, who looks as business-like and as ecnial as over, explained to a Times roporter who interviewed him yesterday that lie is at present on a flying trip to tho colony, being due in Sydney next ffcok. • . Hcrr Scherok's long connection with music in New Zealand and Australia enables him to speak with somo authority on such a matter-as the introduction of an atti'rLCtivo star performer. Concerning himself, he informs us that 6ince ho was last among us ho has paid three visits to South Africa, with as many musical celebrities, as manager and pianist, and lie has also boen to America, Germany, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden in a similar dual capacity. Ho has heard the greatest pianists of the present time in London and on tho Continent, and none, he states, pleased him moro than the gifted lady whom it has been his good fortune to induce to visit Australasia. >" Knowing Australasians as I do,' eaid he, " I am convinccd that Madame Carreno will capture the whole-hearted admiration of audiences horoassho has done wherever she has appeared." But wo hnvo heard so little of Madamo Carreno, and in Padcrcweki, we heard one whom we havo been accustomed to regard 88 tho greatest pianist in tho world. "That remark," Hcrr Soherck replied, " loads mo to an explanation I ara rather anxious to make. .I, personally, have a horror of tho phraso' greatest in tho world' So applied to any artist. Tho greatestpainter, tho greatest poet, tho greatest novelist, who is ho? So much depends upon individual taste. Now, if it were tho greatest billiard player, or tho greatest footballer—. But tho greatest pianist!" and tho impressario gavo a characteristic shrug of tile shoulders. "Musical inspirations and impressions cannot bo mathematically'computed. It is easy enough to porocivo that tho great artist far supersedes in every respoct tho ordinary performer, but when you come to talk about euoli players no Saucr, D'Albert, Carreno, and Busoni tho conventional . standards cease. No expert oven would daro to pro : nounce any one of these artists greater than tho others. Certainly Hans von Bulow once described Madame Carreno as ' tho most interesting pianist of tho age,' but there is a difference between such a statement and the bald assertion that she is absolutely the best. Von'Bulow was doubtless referring to the extraordinary faculty Madame Garraio has of magnetising—l might nlmost say hypnotising—her audiences. Tlicro is lio doubt that she completely carries them away. But of this you will shortly be able to judge for yourself. As a pianist Madame Carreno has e>traordir,ary power qnd virility You liavo heard Padcrowski'f So far as tone is concerned what he extracts from a piano might well be described as effeminate comSared with that obtained by Carreno. v hor peculiarly ekilful ttnd unostentatious method she produces a tone eminently 6uggt'slivo of masculine vigour, and withal there seems to bo some fore© continually hold in reserve. Madams Carreno is not the only example of a woman possessing marked 'masculine' vigour at the piano. There is, for, instanoo, Bophio Moiiter, who like Carreno, for 6trangth positively surpasses any contemporary performer." Pursuing tho eamo them©, Heir Schcrek predicted that Now Zealanders will hail Madams Carrcno's playing as a revolatian. " Sho is the biggest producer of tons since Rubinstein's And let me add there is nn suggestion of • harshness or yiolenco about it. It is mellow, perjxsating, and captivating with its many fine gradations. As Ehrlich, in his treatise on 'Celebrated Pianists' finely expresses it, Oarrcno 'captivates even, tlioso who mako it a rulo to admire nothing.' Her performances appeal to tho general publio as well aa to those who havo ' distinct musi eal inclinations.'" Is there not a decline in the tasto for really good ■■ musio in this _ part of the world? Good musical artists whom it would be invidious to name havo occasionally been greatly disappointed in tho support extended to their concerts. "I api distinctly optimistic regarding tho development of tho healthy tasto in music that has been fairly inaugurated. The visits of' such artists as Madamo Carreno cannot fail to tear good fruit. The circle of admirers of sound and elevating will go on increasing. . In fact, I (thai! bo'muoh disappointed' if in tho immediate fnturo wo do not havo regular visits by first-claps musicians. In proportion to population there arc far more people who aro musically inclined in Australia, nnd ,New Zealand than thero are in Germany, which is supposed to bo tho homo of first-olaaß music." Carreno will be?in her tour in Melbourne on Mav 20. Sho is duo in Sydney on .Tune; 8. Brisbane and Adelaide will follow, and on July 17 the Dunedin season will opnn. Concerts will lie given in the four principal cities of the colony, and towards tho end of August the distmiruishoil pianist will leave Auckland for San l'ranciscc, whero sho begins hor Amoriean tour.