Theatre Royal.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 113, 17 May 1904, Page 2

Theatre Royal.

A WOULD FAMOUS PIANIST. We are pleased to again cull attention 'to the piano recital to he given by the world-renowned pianist, ilerr Albert Friedenthal on T'luii'wlay next in the Theatre Royal. This celebrated artist is now completing his third tour around the world, and pleasant reminiscences will doubtless lie recalled of his previous visit to New Zealand, liw years' ago. lie has just concluded highly successiu l recitals at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, where large and enthusiastic audiences were present on every occasion. Ilerr Friedenthal is now regurded as one of the greatest living pianists, and without any doubt in many features of Ivis urt he is unsurpassed. His repertoire Is wonderfully extensive, embracing more than 250 different pieces, all from memory. Amongst these are a dozen concertos, with orchestral accompaniment, just as many sonatas of Beethoven, a large number of fuges and preludes oi liach, and' the most extensive works of Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Schubert, Wugner, Rubinstein, etc. Evidently we are to hear a player far above the ordinary standard, and it is to be hoped the musical public of New Plymouth will take full advantage of an opportunity, seldom afforded, of hearing one of the world's greatest virtuosi.

The L'Alto Adije (of Trient, a .very musical centre) says, in reporting one of Friedenthal's recitals :

"If a pianist tills the entire evening with his own executions, the attention of the public will generally decrease before half of the programme has been gone through. With Albert Friedenthal just the contrary is the case. The applause gets more anil more lively, and at the end of the programme, comprising 20 pieces, nobody left his place until the artist had played about half a dozen additional pieces as encores. The enthusiasm provoked by Albert Friedenthal a lew days ago at his Chopin recital, filled the immense hall of the Athenaeum up to the last seat. He who has reached such a high position in his art, who is able to interpret a work like the 'Sonata Appassionata in such a Superior way, need not be criticised. The Royal family adorned the performance by their presence and remained until the end. Her Majesty always led the applause after every piece."

The plan, for reserved seats is now available at the Colonial Piano Bepat, when* numbers of seats wore •booked as soon as tlr plan was opened yesterday afternoon.