MAGNIFICENT CONCERT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 17 March 1933, Page 4

MAGNIFICENT CONCERT

VINOGRADOFF’S TRIUMPH. A BRILLIANT PIANIST. Expectations Avere more than realised by the large audience in the Parish Hall last evening on the occasion of the return Afisit of Paul Yinogradoff, the eminent pianist, A\’ho again gave a magnificent concert. His exacting programme AA'as carried through triumphantly, his amazing technique, consummate musicianship and transparent sincerity enabling him to g-i\ 7 e a. thoroughly satisfying interpretation of the Avide]y differeing styles and moods of the various numbers. The “Aloonlight Sonata” at once established him in the estimation of the audience as an able exponent of Bee-tho.ien. The Ist Aloveme-nt of Grcig’s Pianoforte Concerto folloAA'ed, a Avork of noble proportions and superb Avorkmansliip. Here Yinogradoff had the assistance of Air (Charles AY. Kerry, Avho supplied the orchestral accompaniment on a second piano. The performance AA'as a brilliantly successful ynece of Avork, the pianists being recalled again and again by tumultuous applause. Some of Chopin's greatest AA'orks AA'ere included in Yinogradoff’s next group. Among them were the impassioned Scherzo in B minor, and the overwhelming C minor Nocturne, as Avell as some of the most popular, such as the Berceuse, the “Butterfly” and “Black Note” Etudes. The A fiat- Mazurka and the AValtz in the same key completed a notable group. In response to -the audience’s demand for more, a request piece, the “Fan•tasie Impromptu” AA'as added. In this group Chopin Avas exhibited in many moods, heroic, fervent, dreamy, dainty, delicate and brilliant. Yinogradoff proved a Avortliy interpreter of them all.

A bracket of three Liszt composition's came next; the seldom heard “AValdesrausehen” (Forest Rustlings), “ Gmomenreigen ” (Land of the Gnomes), and the familiar Liebestraum No. 3. The wonderful virtuosity of the great pianist Avas clearly manifested in these -examples of musical pyrotechnics, and AA'as e\ r en more eA'ident in the number Avhich folloAA'-ed S’hulz-E\'ler’s arrangement of the “Blue Danube ’ waltzes. This Ava's a veritable tour de force, and AA r ell merited the OA-ation which ensued. Although the last item on the printed programme, .it Avas by no means the last of the evening. A large number of requests had been sent in for additional pieces, and Yinogradoff gave of his best, and gave generously. A brilliant and most effective “Russian Phantasy” from his oaati pen Avas the first of a series of extras, introducing A-arious Russian folk-tunes, including the avcllknoAvn “Volga Boat Song’’ and a livelA Cossack dance. Debussey’s “Submerged Cathedral” received a beautiful and sympathetic rendering, and then folloAved Liszt’s spectacular “Campanella, ” played Avith extraordinary brilliance. As a, final number the great vortuoso added the same com-' poser’s 6th Hungarian Rhapsody, thus bringing to a close a concert Avhich must surely be among the memorableexperiences of all AA'ho were present. The explanatory remarks by Mr Kerry which preceded each number added to the interest and enjoyment. This evening Vinogradoff Avill give. a further concert, presenting an entirely neAV programme, 'at SolAvay College.