MONS. LEON-DRIVER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3880, 7 August 1891, Page 2

MONS. LEON-DRIVER.

Solo Pianist anl Composer.

Arrangements have been made for the appesranoe in Masterton of the celebrated solo pianist and composer, Mons. Leon-Driver, who will give one of hid wondertul concerts and performances on the piano, for one evening only, on Monday, August 10th. Be has just concluded a highly satisfactory season in Wellington, and his playing has created quite a sensation in New Zealand, the Press criticisms in Auckland and Wellington having been most flattering. He has just concluded his Australian tour, previous to dcing New Zealand. He avoids giving classical items in his programmes, and arrange's them so as to suit the public taste. He has studied under the great Abbe Liszt, the King of Pianists, and plays no less than 72 pieces wholly from memory, a most wonderful feat in itself. His repertoire consists of seleotions from Beethoven, Liszt, Ohopin, and Thalberg, and his rendering of these works and also the popular music, such as the well-known melodies, " Auld Robin Gray," which he plays with the left hand alone, with the most extraordinary variations, " The Swanee Kiver," with very brilliant variations, " Kiliarney," and all the old Scotch and Irish melodies, arranged by himself with preat brilliancy, has created extraordinary enthusiasm everywhere to packed houses. In some instances people have had to be turned away from the doors. The Press of Australia say that they have not heard such playing in the colonies, and the way in which Mons. Leon* Driver plays such simple melodies as " Auld .Robin Gray," " Kiliarney," "The Swanee River," "Home Sweet Home," and his great realistic " Storm at Sea," makiog people bound from their seats at the effect 3 he produces, must be heard to be appreciated. Melbourne Life, the leading society journal, in commenting on his last Piano Recital in Melbourne, says:—The next solo that this great pianist performed was hisown composition " A Storm at Sea," one of the most descriptive solos for the piano that we have ever had the pleasure of listening to. This great solo is in five movements (a) (andante) " a calm voyage," (b) (allegro) theaailors song," (c) " distant thunder," (d) (prestissimo) " The Horn," (e) (andante), " The hymn of Thanksgiving*" The opening theme (a) (andante) "The Calm Voyage," represents the rippling water, and the long roll of the waves, and was most exquisitely rendered. The second (b) (allegro) «• The Sailor s Song," is a joyous melody representing the happiness of the crew and is a very original melody, and effectually brought out by the running arpeggio accompaniment, then (c) adagio, brings in the commencement of the storm, the distant thunder which was most realistically given and appeared miles away; then as each rumble became more distinct, you could hear the rising tempest which increased in volume, until there was a fearful crash overhead which brought in (c) of "The Storm," and the roaring waters, the shrieks of the shrouds, the moaning wind, and all the sounds of a storm at sea were given with roost marvellous effect, and made the audience jump in their seats, then the gradual subsidence of the storm bringing in (e) "The Prayer of Thanksgiving," a lovely and exquisite melody, which finally ended in a distant peal of thunder. Mons. Leon-Driver was most enthusiastically and tumultuously applauded, being recalled three times."