SUPERB PLAYING OF PIANO

Southland Times, Issue 24878, 19 October 1942, Page 6

SUPERB PLAYING OF PIANO

Recital By Mr Charles Martin Piano recitals by performers of the calibre of Mr Charles Martin are suffiI ciently rare in Invercargill to make I them important musical events. It was | not surprising, therefore, that the re- | cital given by Mr Martin under the auspices of the Music Section of the University Association of Southland on Saturday night attracted a large audience to the Women’s Club rooms. An admirable programme was presented and the recitalist was in good form, displaying again the qualities of sound musicianship for which his previous appearances have been noted. It was an exacting test, as the programme included eighteenth century music, examples from the romantic period and modern music, but in all cases Mr Martin gave a satisfying performance. The programme opened with an attractive group of eighteenth century music, which included a Handel Courante, a Rameau Sarabande,. a Grazoli Minuetto, a Gigue by Lully, a Toccata by Paradies and an arrangement of Bach’s choral prelude “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring.” In all of these Mr Martin was equally at home. The rippling Courante, the dignified Sarabande and the graceful Minuetto were particularly pleasing and the choral prelude was played with a fine sense of feeling for the music. The major work on the programme was Beethoven’s “Waldstein” Sonata, in which Mr Martin realized, to the full the breadth of its conception. There were fine passages of power and grace in the first movement and the gaiety of the rondo was captivating. Chopin examples included the charming Romance from the E. Minor Concerto, the Waltz in A Flat Major and the unusually delicate Mazurka in B Minor. “The Prophet Bird” of Schumann had a strong poetic atmosphere, and the melodious Schubert Impromptu in B Flat was irresistible. A final group of works by Liszt was marked by brilliant execution. They were an arrangement of Schumann’s “Spring Night,” the Consolation in’ D Flat and the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12. Other items played by Mr Martin were Schumann’s “Novelette,” the Scherzo from York Bowen’s “Miniature Suite” and “Seguidila” (Albeniz). Mr Martin was assisted by Mr Alexander Wilson (baritone), whose voice of wide range and power was well suited to the great Handel aria “Honour and Arms” and the melodious “To the Forest” (Tschaikowsky). Other items were “In Youth is Pleasure” (Gibbs) and “To Anthea” (Stanton).