PIANOFORTE RECITAL

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 13

PIANOFORTE RECITAL

There is no more, deservedly popular musician in Christchurch than Mr Alfred Biinz, and fow who may claim equal rank 3s pianists. It was therefore only to bo expected that there would bs a largo gathering of musical people at the Choral Hall last night. The programme, which included at. least some music rarely heard, opened with the. Taussig arrangement of n Toccata and Fugue by Bacn, the Toccata played with much power and the Fuyue clear in its complex stmcture and effective in the .florid passage-work. Beethoven's iSonnta, Op. ye, with tho lino variations and tbo Funeral March received an iutclloetunl interpretation, followed, in response to an encorcj by a .Scarlatti number, daintily given. The second part was composed of three Chopin favourites, the Polonaise, in C sharp minor, the Nocturne in E flat, and tho brilliant Valse, Op. 34, of which the Nocturne and tho Valsr particularly wore distinguished for olepance. and .craep. A dever little sketch, the '•Firefly. ,, by Farjcou, was much appreciated. Finally. tl)o .sparkling and difficult Etude in 1) flat, by Liszt, and a Toccata, equally exacting, by his master, Leschotizky, displayed brilliant execution both, and tli<> Rubinstein piece, aa another encore, commendable taste.

Miss Miilicent Jennings, tho -earned apiin golden opinions. It js more in jrracolnl, tender, and bright, than in sombrfe or severe styles that her be« qunlities are brought oiit, and hor voice proves most symp«thetic. For this reason Artie's ''La.-s with tho Delicate Air,'' the French chansons,, including "Son Enfant." by Visetti, "and a bright, brilliant song, "Ytcstasy," by Morse Rummel, made tho best' impression, refinement and delicacy of modulation being equally conspicuous in all. Mrs Osmond cJmitli played the accompaniments tastefully, and excelled in the difficult sotting to the song by Morse Ltummc-I.