THE CHEVALIER DE KONTSKI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5697, 16 October 1896, Page 2

THE CHEVALIER DE KONTSKI.

FIRST CONCERT. When an artist, musical or otherwise, is preceded by a great reputation, he sometimes occasions a feeling of disappointment, but few, if any, of the large audience ■ who heard the Chevalier de Kontski last night, could confess to such feeling. From the moment that his hand struck the first chord all doubts were set at rest. The quaint old man can change his piano almost into a living being. His execution, *yen from a modern standpoint is brilliant, but it is in his expression that his great strength lies. With his wonderful singing touch, at first soft and persuasive, then tender and beseeching, and lastly masterful and at times massiVe, it is not •surprising- that liis' playing appeals to the ears of both the cultivated musician and the casual listener. His playing is that of a day gone by, a day which produced some of the greatest masters that the world has ever seen, and for this reason as much, as for his great ability he appeals to his listeners. His principal effort last .night \vas, of course, Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata." The old man has told the story of the romantic circumstances which induced Beethoven to compose this work, and he has related how, during his period of instruction under the famous master, he often heard Beethoven play it. Under these circumstances, it would have been surprising if he had not performed it as it has never previously been played here. His conception of the lovely opening melody of the joyous second movement, and, lastly, of the passionate finale, was in every way as fine as might have been anticipated. Not less beautiful were tne Adagio and Schertzo from Weber's Sonata in A flat, and the same composer's " Invitation to the Waltz," was a? conspicuous for the wonderfully tender treatment of the opening as for the crisp, vigorous playingof the concluding passages. Coupled with" the last-named was a " Polish Patrol," a composition of the Chevalier de Kontski himself, written very much after the style of other works of a similar type, but still showing that the composer can write music as well as play it. His "Souvenir de Faust," likewise, demonstrates this, containing, as it does, some of the best known portions of Gounod's masterpiece, such a3 the " Soldiers' Chorus " and the "Kermesse," and it naturally created a highly favourable impression; indeed, the audience insisted on the player returning, . and he very kindly complied, and played a further portion introducing the waltz. Not content with this the audience demanded another encore, to which M. de Kontski again responded, and played a charming little composition of his own, "Minuet de la Contesse." A frique by Handel served to display M. de Kontski's excellence in this particular branch of hi* art, and as a capital foil to this ponderous contribution came Chopin's " Polonaise in C Sharp Minor," full of the composer's most entrancing melody, and played as only a real lover of Chopin can play it. The Chevalier de Kontski was assisted by Mrs Burns and by Messrs F. M. Wallace and F. R. Woodhouse. Mrs Burns was in capital voice and sang "Love's Wishes," by Bendall, and Goring Thomas's " The Song of Sunshine." For both numbers, which were charmingly sung, Mrs Burns was recalled, and as an encore for the latter the florid portions of which were quite its best features, she sang " A May Morning," by Denza. Mr Wallace played a couple of Hungarian dances by Braliams, arranged for the violin by Joachim, in his usual finished style, and even more enjoyable was his playing of Mackenzie's lovely " Benedictus " and a sparkling gavotte by Bohin, and in response to an encore for the latter items he- gave a gigue by Rust. Mr Woodhouse sang " A Woodland Serenade," by Mascheroni, and Blumenthal's " Across the Far Blue Hills, Marie," while Miss Lingard's playing of , the various accompaniments is deserving of special mention. To-night the Chavalier de Kontski will play the allegro from Weber's sonata in A tlat, the adagio from Beethoven's sonata in D major, and some compositions of his own, and he will be assisted by Mrs Burns and Mr F. M. Wallace.