BRAHMS RECITAL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 148, 26 June 1933, Page 3

BRAHMS RECITAL

FOURTH OF SERIES

The fourth recital of the Johannes Brahms centenary series was held-on Saturday evening in the Bristol Salon, which was filled with an interested and appreciative audience. The principal weight of the pnKi-amme fell on Mr. John Bishop, whose burden of responsibility at the piano was somewhat lightened by two vocal otfenngs, love waltzes for vocal quartet, °J Misses Zell O'Kane and Gladys Hibberd, and Messrs. Roy Hill and W. Binet Brown. Four of these waltzes were sung in the first part of the programme, and three in the second; the accompanists were Misses Nora Gray and Lalla Vondersloot. ihese little love songs are peculiar in form, tv 1 of appeal and surprises, and they were all followed with attention and their charm was evident. Of Mr. Bishop's eftorts at the piano, it may be said that he made music that the public seldom hears a very pliant medium through which to send the Brahms message to the audience. He opened the programme with the following group of varied works:—lntermezzo in A Minor (Op. 118); Intermezzo in A Major (Op. US); two waltzes in Lllat and E Sharp Minor; Intermezzo in h Flat Minor (Op. 118); Romance in F (Op. US); Ballade in D Minor ("Edward ) (Op. 10). All of these were admired, and perhaps most of all the last. Having heard so much of the pianoforte side of Brahms s work, the audience was keen to hear the Sonata in D Minor for violin and piano, and it by no means fel? short of expectations. Mrs. Frieda Meier as violinist was in the same conquering vein as Mr. Bishop himself, and the sonata made a very great appeal to the audience, every one. of the movements carrying its own message. The applause was prolonged, and was. repeated after Mr. John Bishop had played the Intermezzo in E Flat (Op. 117); Andante from F Minor Sonata (Op. 5); and Rhapsodic in G Minor (Op 79). The Rhapsodic in particular was heard with appreciation. F-ven then the excellent work of Mr. Bishop was not completed, for he scored another and final success with Variations and Fugue on a HandelAu' (Op. 24). The next of the Brahms, centenary series will be a chamber concert in the Bristol Salon on 'Wednesday evening, when the following artists will take part:—Mr. and Mrs. Leon de Mauny, Mr. Claude Tanner, Mr. Frank Crowther, and Miss Molly, Atkinson. Part-songs will be sung by the Madrigal Singers. The accompanist will be Mr. Harry Brusey.