THE CHERNIAVSKYS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18229, 13 November 1924, Page 12

THE CHERNIAVSKYS.

SECOND CONCERT

A very large audience, always an unfailing tonic, put life and spirit into everyone of the brothers at their second concert last night, and the hearers in their turn could be well content with the feast of music provided and the manner of its presentation. Mendelssohn's C minor Trio took the pride of place.' Little they can know of this and many another of his works who dub him the "saccharine" Mendelssohn. There is an impassioned flow and force in the first movement truly exhilarating and its workmanship may satisfy , the highest demands. The "Andante" soars to an exaltation rarely met in his slow movements; the bright finale crowns the fine structure effectively. The performance was in every way worthy of admiration; each member proved a master of every detail, and all co-oper-ated to perfection. The interruption by applause between parts should, however, be openly discouraged. M. Verbrugghen set an example that might well be adopted by all. The reason is self-evident. As encore a Hungarian theme by Schubert went charmingly. Miscliel Cher.niavsky now took his turn with a group of soli much less hackneyed tlian the previous night, playing very finely the Romance by Popper, skilfully, a rather fantastic Serenade, and with great virtuosity the clever "Butterfly." His encore, a faithful transcription of KimskyKorsakov's beautiful "Song of India," added to his laurels for taste and refinement:

Jan Cherniavsky had chosen this time one of the greatest of Beethoven's Sonatas, the " Appassionata." It has become of late the fashion to reduce the'tempo of the first movement.upon the plea of dignity, until every particle of passion, its ground motive, had been washed out. The return to the old and traditional way can be heartily approved. Jan's interpretation combined spirit- and power and full comprehension. In the Andante, otherwise beyond reproach, the, virtuoso • peeped out prematurely where the demisemiquavcers come in. There was time enough when, arriving at, the finale, which gives ample opportunities for display and justifies brilliancy of execution. But apart from this, every credit is due to him for a thoroughly artistic and fascinating interpretation. No doubt, then, "the lion" of the trio was he. Nothing less thain a Liszt Rhapsody, splendidly played, would do for his first encore, and a modernised Scarlatti for' his second, proof of remarkable endurance.

■ Lalo's so-called "Symphonie Espagnole" has not enough to say for itself to satisfy during the great length of the two .first parts, but interest revives with. that playful third,. and is well and' aittractively sustained to the end. Mr Leo brought to bear upon it all his skill and the weight of mature conception. Chaminade's "Serenade Espagnole" and the Ameri-can-made '' Canebrake'' were given with admirable finish in response to the audience's insistence to their full delight. The last group consisted again of trios specially designed for popular purposes already mentioned. Last night's programme , was in every respect but one-.vastly superior to the first night's choice, the exception being the comparative merit of the Mardini and Lalo compositions introduced by Mr Leo. He kept almost clear of the bird : lime . type so prevalent on Wednesday. Of course it. goes without saying ■■ not the- only sinners. ' . ' . To-night the final concert -will take place, with another new and" alluring programme.