THE CHEVALIER DE KONTSKI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5698, 17 October 1896, Page 7

THE CHEVALIER DE KONTSKI.

SECOND CONCERT. That the Chevalier de Kontski has thoroughly won his way into the hearts of the music-loving portion of the Christchurch public was amply demonstrated by the number and appreciativeness of the audience which assisted at his second concert last night. At his first concert M. de Kontski showed that he is a versatile player, and last nievht he still further asserted this fact. Generally speaking, artists of his class cater only for lovers of classical music, but the Chevalier de Kontski, secure in his position as a master of his crai't, can with confidence descend to music which less accomplished performers would not dare to place before their audience. For instance, after playing the allegro from Weber's sonata in A flat,- he played, as an encore, an adaptation of the popular airs " The Swaunee River " and "Home, Sweet Homo," with variations, which are certainly reminiscent of Thalberg and the earlier struggles of youthfni beginners on the piano. His own " Reveil dv Lion, Caprice Heroique " is to a certain extent of a similar character. ' The opening portion, which is replete with the entrancing melody of a bye-gone school, is evidently descriptive of a sleeping army. Then comes the bugle call, and lastly the military music of marching men, all of which were played in a manner that made the intentions of the composer plain to even the most superficial listener. In the adagio from Beethoven's Sonata in D Major M. de Kontski again rose to classical heights, and here his fine command of rythm and his exquisitely firm and clear toxich were as apparent as ever. But perhaps he excelled most of all in Mendelssohn's " Spring Song," which he played very tenderly indeed, and his great versatility was further displayed when he immediately dashed off into Weber's " Moto Perpetuo," which, as its title ' implies, 'is the very antithesis of the previous number. By thi3 time M. de Kontski had raised his audience to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, and after one °of the recalls, w'fch came &s a matter of course after each number, he was presented by an admirer with a classic laurel wreath: His concluding contributions were two compositions of his own, " A Snow Spirit," a delightfully melodious song without words, and a "Grand Concert Waltz," written in the -style which Strauss subsequently made so popular, and in response to an encore for one of these he played a few bars of oiir own " National Anthem." Mrs Burns to a certain extent spoiled her singing of Cowen's "The Promise of Life," by cutting the rythm, and thus altering the composer's meaning of the song. Her enunciation was, however, much better than usual, and in reply to an encore she repeated the last verse. Goring Thomas' "The Song of Sunshine" was much better suited to her voice, and so was her encore song, Alfred Hill's " A Summer Day," both of which were charmingly sung. Mr F. M. Wallace, who on the previous evening was suffering from indisposition, had evidently recovered, and his playing displayed a corresponding improvement. A nocturne by Hans Sifct and Wieniawski's charming mazurka in the first portion of the programme were so well played that they were encored, and in response Mr Wallace played a gavotte by Bach. Later he gave a striking and vigorous rendering of an andante and scherzo by Saint Saens, and on being recalled played a gavotte by Bohm. Miss C. Lingard, who again acted as accompanist, accomplished work which, to say the least of it, was trying, in a most conscientious manner, and to her a considerable portion of the success of several of the items was due. To-night the Chevalier de Kontski will play the allegro from Weber's Sonata in D minor, the Andante con Variazione, from Beethoven's Sonata in A Flat, some reminiscences of his own of Schubert, one of Mendelssohn's songs without words, a Tarantelle by Schumann, and, by special request, his Souvenir de Faust. He will be assisted by Mrs Burns and Messr3 Wallace and Woodhouse.