THE CHERNIAVSKI RECITALS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 988, 11 February 1909, Page 17

THE CHERNIAVSKI RECITALS.

Mr. Edward Bransconibe. who will be remembered as bringing to New Zealand some little time ago the immensely successful and popular “ Westminster Concert Party,” will introduce to Aucklanders at His Majesty’s on the 22nd inst., an equally attractive combination in the Cherniavsk's, the celebrated Russian prodigies. All that the “ Westminster Boys” were in the vocal art, the Cherniavskis are (only naturally in a much more wonderful degree) in the realm of instrumental music. Pos sibly no higher testimony as to the astonishing ability of these Russian children could be found than in the

comments upon their playing contained in this month’s “ Triad.” As is probably known, the very outspoken critic who writes for the paper men tioned, is more noted for bold and slashing use of the “Lancet” upon subjects who come for treatment upon his operating table than for very gentle methods of surgery, or a nlentifulness of anaesthetics. On that account the following few sentences should have the greater weight. He commences: “What is worse than en enfant prodigue Three enfants prodigues; to be sure —three times worse —one of the usual Wunderkinder is thrice and again times a bore—but these three Russian boys are mature artists. Each has amazing technique, and what is vastly more important, musical insight, and compelling temperament—and here (least you follow me no further) let me beg all my readers to hear these three wonderful boys and they will arise and call me blessed. Mischel Cherniavski (aged 12), who is a veritable little genius on

h's instrument, played a Liszt Popper “ Hungarian Rhapsody” for the ’cello with astounding facility and technical resource, and with a breadth, purity of tone, tenderness and mature musicianly feeling little short of miraculous. Leo Cherniavski (aged 16) played the first part of the Tschaikovski Violin Concerte in D. I had listened to Kubelik and Marie Hall, coldly critical, unmoved, but this boy swept me off my feet and swirled me along rhe flood of his passion whithersoever he would. Jan Cherniavski (aged 14) played the Liszt transcription of •‘ Rigoletto.” It was played with astounding brilliancy- Jan usually produces a delightful tone, and many varieties of tone —at times his temperament carries him away. Nothing since the Carreno concerts has given me so much genuine pleasure as the playing of these richly-dowered young musicians.”