JASCHA HEIFETZ

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 278, 18 August 1921, Page 7

JASCHA HEIFETZ

A MASTERJVIOLINIST A very largo audience gathered at tho Town Hall to pay homage to Jascha Heifetz, the Russian violinist, now on his all-conqucring tour of the world. When a star of such magnitude reaches these shores, there is little to say but what has been said many times before in many places. Heifetz, who ivas a prohigy as a youngster, has been permitted to retain all the witchery ho exerted in his boyhood, plus thoso deeper virtues of complete understanding that can only be the portion of artistic maturity and ceaseless study. Ho is no longer to bo inferred to as "that wonderful Russian boy.’’ Ho stood before last night’s audience a man in every senso of the word. His boy stage has passed, and both from the standpoint of pnj siquo and the art Tie Has so signally conquered he is tho completed product. His art has its. own individuality, sale within the bounds of musical legitimacy. Kis gloriously pure tone, his complete Hiastory of tho technique of tho most difficult of instruments, his perfect bow'ing, and his extraordinary delicacy ot touch are all exhibited without the slightest trace mannerism or theatrical effect. In personality lie is gravity itself. Heifetz is not an emotional player, his appeal being more to the head than tho heart, but tho appeal is a tremendous one—great enough to enthuse any audience, as was thecase last evening. His playing off Che ITandel bonata in D Major” was a polished example of perfect legato playing. The ln cl fl s ’“' plicity of Handel’s works—and the th ernes he .wrote for instruments were often drawn upon other anu greater works —lends itself to an exhibition of tone, in its myriad nuances, and the Sonata as played last evening stamped the per former as an artist. His , tecl J? lca |,J o ' sources were drawn upon in tho v cniawski “Concerto in D Minor, a particularly characteristic work, with, solemn andante movement, played. splendid stateliness and grandeur. un his third entrance the lin } sfc . pl ? s bracket of five pieces. The first of th se was tho Schubert "Avo Maria, y beautifully intoned and enriched with the spirit of reverence. The Mozait “Minuet” which followed P J with rare grace, verve, and There were many present who would single out tho helmj "Nocturne in D Major as one of tho most perfectly-interpreted nun bers. Its innate delicacy and refinement lent itself to tho crystalline tones Heifetz can so easily command, and made it (to quote ffie P^ ram “ 6 v t ™th " tion) "a vision of beauty in ' erytiuth. A number new to most was the and swirlingly rhythmical Chorus of the Dervishes” (Beethoven-Auer), a W ica dance of the desert being graceful yJ?ic tured. Then- followed the Beethoicn Auer “Turkish March” (through the ruins of Athens), a patrol movcme tho 'steadiest of march tempos v hie dies away until the lilt is only the hi"h harmonics —but what nar monies! The playing of this number roused the audience to cheers, and a encore—a simple little waltz beautifully embellished-wns the reward. Of en trancing beauty in a melancholy mood wX an "Andante Cantabile” movement from Tschaikovsky’s "String Qujwteff (Opus 11), which was played sordino with nice feeling. It included a doublestopped passage in harmonics placed with exquisite delicacy and suavity. Ihis was ono of the gems of the evenin , absolutely completing tho conquest already made. Finally Heifetz played Bazzini’s "Rondo des Lutins ( Tho Goblins’ Dance”), showing in the entrancing process what beautiful work he cm do with tho springing bow. . spontaneous acclamation the violinist played with dignity and strength a notably appealing "Spanish Danco by Granados. , _ „-ui - The accompanimonte were admiiabiy plaved by Samuel Chotzinoff. The next concert is to bo given on Monday evening next.