PIANOFORTE RECITAL

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1720, 10 April 1913, Page 8

PIANOFORTE RECITAL

With the departure from Wellington of more than one pianist with pretensions to virtuosity, Wellington may be said to be fortunate in tho possession of Mr. Baxter Buckley, who eamo hero unsung and unlionourcd, and has by his undoubted gifts as an exponent of classical pianoforte miisiic quickly established himself' in the good graces of those of understanding. The recitals which Mr. Buckley gave last season were illuminating, for whilst paying due court to tho master composers, he introduced tho local public to more than one brilliant modern writer for. the pianoforte, the performance of which evoked comment and gave much pleasure to those capable of listening intelligently. Last evening's performance only served to emphasise the good opinion formed of Mr. Buckley. The programme was over-long to begin with. Mr. Buclcley lias an unfortunate 'habit'of attempting too much in an evening, and if tho programme had been confined''lo his items ulonc it would have almost been long enough to satisfy an audience, but on this occasion ho had the assistance of Mrs. Gower-Burns, of Christcliurch, and Mr. F. R. Johnston, tho local 'cellist, and consequently it was 10.20 p.m. beforo tho final chord was played. Mr. Buckley opened with, the Saint-Sapns-Baeli "Bouree," in which tho character of the greatest master has been/well -sustained. It ( was very evenly and cleanly played throughout. Beethoven's C minor "Variations," which runs tho gamut of almost every mood, displayed tho virtuosity of the pianist to a marked degree. Mac- ■ Howell's "Hexentanz" is a rippling, sparkling composition, which tickled the ear by its sheer prettiness, and displayed the pianist's facility for speedy fingering. In contrast came Paul Habit's "Romance," somewhat funereal in character, which was played with a good deal' of feeling.' The third number of the bracket was a delightful Scherzo by Gliero, played with captivating verve and precision. Tho audience wanted more, and tho "Scherzo" had'to bo repeated. The chief item of the second-part was the .first Liszt Concerto in E Flat, a Homeric composition, which calls for'breadth, sustained power, and an all-embracing technique. It was admirably played by Mr. Buckley, who was assisted , by Miss T. Hunify (as orchestra) on a second piano. Mr. Buckley also played a dainty "Minuet" by Zanella, "La Campanclla" (l'aganini-Liszt), and, with Mr. Frank Johnston, Rubinstein's Sonata (op. 18) for piano and 'cello, which has a particularly beautiful "Allegretto" movement. Mr. F. R. .Johnston also played Gottermann's "Cantaleua" artistically. Mrs. Gower-Burns, who has not lx-en heard in Wellington for some lime, was heard .with pleasure in scene and tv.r from "Faust," "Tho Xing of Thule," and "The Jewel Song." The was deficient in tone, but the legend was sung with high intelligence, the singer admirably suggesting the secondary thought (that of her lover), which obsesses Marguerite as she sings at her spinning wheel of the dying King. In "The Jewel Song" the singer admirably, and sang wilh ease the trills and florid vocal passages with which the, famous solo abounds. She also sang Brahms's charming sonor "A Plaint." A. Mnllinson's "Oh, My Garden," and revived pleasant memories of Alfred Hill's 'nlendid Maori cantata "Hinemoa" in the ballad "Ho Loves Me Not." Why this fine work is not heard more often nasseth ' understanding. In the second half. Mrs. Burns sang "Good Night" (Ronald) and "Spring" (Henshel) with much vocal in-, terpretivo charm.