Mons. Leon Driver.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 3 October 1891, Page 2

Mons. Leon Driver.

» The public will have another opportunity to-night to hear the celebrated pianiste Mons Leon Driver, be having consented, at the request of many who heard him last night, to give another of his recitals. Those who heard his opening solo " The Swanee River " knew at once that a master hand was at the piano, and the very favourable impression, then created, he increased by each successive number played. " Feu Follett," and " Auld Robin Gray " for the left hand only concluded Mons Leon Driver's contribution to the first part. " Killarney " the opening piece of the second part created qaite a furoi . and in response Mons Driver played " Home tfweet Home." The pleasant relations that were thus established between the artiste and his audience, led him to play a murch and again in response to the energetic applause, a valse. This is sufficient to show what a hold Mons Driver obtained on the audience, and at the end it appeared more like being at a friendly party, than at a stiff public entertainment. The " Storm at Sea " was tht last item on the programme, and before commencing, the pianiste requested the utmost silence, without which many of the fine effects would be lost. His audience being with him, a pin could have been heard, if dropped, and the last dying note of the prayer was almost broken in on by the hearty applause for the splendid execution. Once again did Mons. Driver break through the rule and in acknowledgement of the attention given by the audience, he played " Ye Banks and Braes;" We can most honestly recommend every lover of music to attend tonight, as Mons: Leon-Driver has shown that he is without doubt a very great master of the piano, and a very fine musician. If some fear that the music might be beyond them, we are informed hy the manager that tonight only the simpler pieces will be played, such as anyone is bound to enjoy: Of course earnest musicians delight in getting a note or two of the tune intetanxed wifch most wonderful scalijsfwith either the right or left hand, and these whole souled creatures sigh and smile during the " execution " when they catch or miss the point. It is everyone to his taste, but however excellent, the style is not always popular. Our readers may not be sorry therefore to know that if they ' attend to night they will have the I pleasure of listening to lighter and | perhaps more tuneful measures, ' played by a master hand. We j strongly advise their going. The prices have also been reduoed.