MR. BAXTER BUCKLEY'S RECITAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2594, 16 October 1915, Page 11

MR. BAXTER BUCKLEY'S RECITAL

Wellington has ample cause to be grateful to Mr, Baxter Buckley, so shortly to leave these shores to perfect the art of which he is so proficient an exponent already. It says a good deal for his modesty aaid much for his ambitious that ho recognises that there is still much to be learned by sitting at the feet of the mighty. Thanks are due to him not. alone for the general excellence of his playing iind the fine intelligence that- dignifies and enhances it, but for the adventurous spirit in cultivating for the delectation of his bearers music of the modern school, notably that -f that gifted group of Russians who "-ire..asserting themselves, in the sphere of -pianoforte music particularly, by ho sheer force of their genius. Mr. Buckley's catholic taste and commendable enterprise will servo to hold his ntonory in fond respect against tho time ho returns to charm us all anew. The recital of last evening, which attracted a largo audience, was in every respect a- succcss. Tlio programme was of a light and well diversified character, yet gave a faithful insight into the. pianist's abounding talent. Curiously enough, the programme included music by German, Italiau, Russiau, Polish, Hungarian, and American composers, but no example of English music, which is more or less significant of our shortcomings in this particular sphere, of art. . In his first bracket Mr. Buckley, with nice delicacy and repose, played the allegro movement from Handel's "English Suite," a "Pastorale" and- "Caprice" of much charm by Scarlatti,' a dark, moody study in •subdued .tones," entitled ''Les Barricades Mysterieuses," by Couperin, and a bril-liantly-played "Fantasia" of Beethoven. In the interpretation of each of these numbers one detected a fine smoothness and certainly a greater leaven of that jlusive element temperament than Mr. Buckley has ever showed us before. There was notably evident ' a. sense . of intellectual repose or, shall we say, deliberation in tho player's address to each number. This was a marked feature in the Schumann items, the brilliant "Papillons," aud the enigmatic . "Why?" whilst his dash and smooth modulation in the Chopin "Scherzo" were features that roused'the admiration of the audience! lii_the final bracket: Mr.' •Buckley included six pieces, a fiery characteristic, "Humorcske," by Rachmaninoff, aflame with, rapid syncopated'passages,- a tinkling "Elfin Dance," and the showy "Polonaise" by the late Edward M'Dowell, America's finest composer for the pianoforte; a sleepy "Romance" by Paul Pabst; a.bizarre "Hungarian Dance" by Selim PalmgreE; and a gloriously vital and melodiouß "Scherzo" by Gliere, which the pianist had to repeat in answer to tho applause which followed his. brilliant exposition. Mr. Buckley was assisted ..by two vocalists. .Mrs. J.'F. Woodward exhibited admirable control over a very light and musical soprano voice in ' 'Se Saran Roso" (L'Arditi), showing a fine sense of pitch in the delicate staccato notes at the introduction to the pretty walz song. -Slio also gave correct colouring to the coy ballad, "Lovers in tho Lane" (Lehmann), the sprightly' "Will 0' the Wisp" (Spross), (so well sung her by the late Madame Nordica), and the floridly beautiful "Rosa Resurget" of Liza Lehmann. .

Mr. Frank Charlton, in splendid Toioe, sang with fine force and excellent expression, the fine Prologue to "I Paliacci" (Leoncavallo), responding v/jth the pretty little' ballad, "Streamlet" (Landon Bonald).' Ho also sang with effect."L© Basire" (Thomas), and and I." The able accompanists wore Miss Phyllis Hanify, and Mrs. .Queree. ~,