CHERNIAVSKY TRIO

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 295, 5 March 1928, Page 12

CHERNIAVSKY TRIO

FIRST RECITAL OF SEASON Before an appreciative audience the ' talented brothers Cherniavsky gave the first concert of their season at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night. Various schools of composition were represented in the works played, and in most cases highly finished and interesting interpretations were given by the three artists. The outstanding success of the recital was the masterly playing of the Arensky trio in D minor. It is a fresh and melodious work in four well written and well contrasted movements, of which the scherzo and elegy are especially attractive. The melodic line is good, the harmony is not extravagant and the form is well balanced. The ensemble in this and the ..other concerted items was excellent; the precision, phrasing and rhythm were delightful; the rubatos were not overdone, and at times the colouring was brilliant. The trio arrangements of Glinka’s “Romance,” a Dvorak “Slav Dance” and Mendelssohn’s “Spring Song” suffered in comparison with the Arensky work. The “Romance” and “Dance” were well played, but the “Spring Song” rather lacked freedom and nuance. Mischel Cherniavsky played his 'cello solos in musicianly style. His tone is good and his technique is very sound. He gave a dignified rendering of Valentino's Sonata in F, and caught its oldworld atmosphere. His own “Berceuse” is a dainty trifle with a pleasing air and charming lilt, and was repeated at the demand of the audience. Popper’s “Spinning Wheel” completed the group and was splendidly played, but as music it is poor stuff. His encore displayed some fine double stopping. The pianist, Jan Cherniavsky, did fine work in the trios and played the accompaniments to his brothers’ solos beautifully, but as a soloist in Beethoven’s “Sonata Pathetique” he was not so satisfying. His tone was sometimes brittle and unsympathetic, his playing to straight, and in general his interpretation lacked warmth and colour, though there were moments when this was not so—in the Adagio, for instance. Nevertheless, he received a double encore and played his recall numbers delightfully, his rhythm and style in the first of these being excellent. Mr. Leo Cherniavsky substituted a couple of pieces—a Hebrew melody and a Saint-Saens Capriccio—for the Ernst Concerto which was down on the programme. His playing is very good and has real character and distinction. There was breadth and true poetic feeling in his treatment of the Hebrew air, while grace and neatness characterised his playing of the Saint-Saens work, of which he thoroughly caught the Spanish mood. A double encore followed this fine playing. In the first of his extra numbers one heard some wonderfully clear and true harmonics, while in the second (Kreisler’s Viennese Caprice) his

artistic interpretation made it one of ; the most delightful items of an enjoy- i able evening. It was pleasing to see a number of f music students present; such concerts i should not be missed by them. The next recital takes place to-morrow’ evening at the same theatre. I S.K.P. 1