STORMS OF APPLAUSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1020, 10 July 1930, Page 14

STORMS OF APPLAUSE

FINAL BACKHAUS CONCERT There is no denying the appeal of "Wilhelm Backhaus in Auckland. His fourth and final concert last evening was attended by another large audience and storms of applause greeted the great pianist after every item. The three Chopin studies roused the audience to scenes of enthusiasm which have rarely been seen in the Town Hall. Backhaus is the master interpreter of Beethoven. “The Funeral March” sonata was exquisitely played, the final movement, after the majesty of the funeral march itself, being particularly brilliant. Then followed the “Moonlight” sonata, pregnant with melancholy beauty. The whole programme was an admirable one and the master pianist played with that brilliance of technique and sympathy which places him in the forefront of world musicians. The remainder of the programme included two Preludes and Fugues from “The Well-tempered Clavichord” (BacliL a group of Schumann "Des Abends.” “Aufschwung,” “Warum,” and “Traumeswirren"; a Chopin group. Prelude in L> Flat Major, three brilliant studies and Waltz in F Major; Smetana’s “Bohemian Dance," and a Schubert group, impromptu in B Flat Major, moment musical in F Minor, and military march in E Flat Major. Backhaus will give another concert in Auckland in August before he returns to Australia and Europe.