ZIMBALIST SEASON

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 May 1927, Page 13

ZIMBALIST SEASON

ANOTHER CONCERT TO BE GIVEN On Saturday night Mr. Zimbalist opened his concert auspiciously with a very fine performance of the Prelude from Bach’s Partita in E major (arranged by Kreisler). This is surely one of the greatest of Bach’s compositions for the instrument—and thus one of the greatest things in all violin literature. At this player’s hands it lost nothing of its intellectual passion and its logical clearness of construction.

Mr. Zimbalist’s reading of the Mendelssohn Concerto, striking and admirable as it was in some respects, lost a little in unity of style, for the composer was treated sometimes as a belated classic, but more often as a full-bred romantic.

The violinist was at his best again in a group of 18th century pieces, well contrasted in moods. Beethoven’s Romance in G, of the square-cut phrases and sober double-stopping, sounds rather less than romantic to modern ears—a noble work, none the less, and played with authority. Dittersdorf’s “Anglais,” a jolly if not distinguished dance-tune, was followed by a "Musette” of Rameau, tender and forlorn and altogether adorable. Then came a Haydn "Vivace” of infectious high spirits, very characteristic. After such delights, the Sarasate Fantasy on themes of “Carmen” sounded even cheaper than usual; but it afforded opportunity for some dazzling feats of technique. Additional numbers, which were given generously, included a repetition of Glinka’s "Persian Song,” one of the most enjoyable of the modern things that Mr. Zimbalist has played. In this, as always, the muted tone of his violin was remarkable for its beauty and fulness. The accompaniments were played sympathetically by Mr. Louis Greewald.

It is good news that Mr. Zimbalist will give another concert on Friday, June 3. An important number will be Glazounov’s Concerto, Op. 82—probably the first performance in Auckland of this exacting modern work, which is preferred by some competent judges to the better-known Tchaikovski Concerto. We are promised also Handel’s E major Sonata, Bach's "Air on the G String,” and examples of the old French composers, Rameau, Couperin and Gossec—altogether an artistic and well-balanced programme, which should attract any intelligent listener. R.J.B.