Books › Musical Courier 1907-11-20: Vol 55 Iss 21, 1907 › scan 10
Scan 10
Musical Courier 1907-11-20: Vol 55 Iss 21, 1907
24 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. Printed page 11. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1LONDON
235 WEYMOUTH STREET, W.
3LONDON, November 6, 1907.
5Godowsky, one of the world's greatest pianists, paid London a visit last week when he gave his only piano recital this autumn on Tuesday afternoon. That his visits to this city are made far too seldom is an opinion that is shared by all the musical world of London. As it was, last Tuesday found a hall crowded to the utmost extent with an audience that listened with rapt attention to the feast of music set before them. The program was: Prelude and fugue, E major, Bach; sonata, op. 109, Beethoven; two Schubert-Liszt transcriptions; novelettes in F sharp minor and D major, Schumann; sonata in B flat minor, Chopin; A flat nocturne, "Petrarca" sonnet (E major) "Irrlichter," "Mazeppa," Liszt; "Valse de Concert," Glazounow-Blumenfeld.
7And to this program was added a scherzo by Chopin, for the enthusiasm that had been loudly apparent all the afternoon broke all bounds at the end of the program, and cheers, bravos, applause and insistent calls obliged Godowsky to respond to all this demonstration. And here, it may be as well to say, that never has this great pianist played better here than at this recital. Added to his wonderful technic there was everything that goes to make for perfection in interpretation; the restraint, the delicacy, the sentiment, the perfect reading, the clear understanding of the composer, all uniting to make the recital a memorable one, the impression of which will not soon fade. Each time that he appears in London it seems as if Godowsky reaches greater heights in interpreting the exacting programs that he offers. Godowsky seems to combine all that is best in his equipment as a pianist. His technic is so wonderful that no one else exceeds its perfection; he has variety of tone, temperament, delicacy of touch—in fact, all the requisites, and with it all, he has the charming simplicity of really great artists.
9When he played here last winter and spring it seemed as if the last word had been said about him, that he had reached a height to which he might not always attain again, but the greatness of his recital the other day far eclipsed all that he has previously done, and has given him an added crown of laurels.
11It is being arranged for Godowsky to give some recitals here during the winter, for which all music lovers and admirers of this great pianist are truly thankful.
13At the second Broadwood concert, which takes place this week, Godowsky will assist and is to play Beethoven's sonata in A flat, Chopin's ballade in C minor and "Andante Spianato and Polonaise," as well as pieces by Liszt, Liadov and Von Schloezer.
15When Horatio Connell returned to London about the middle of October he found a number of engagements awaiting him, fourteen having been booked for November. These include November 4, private concert in London; November 9, at Bath, both afternoon and evening; November 11, Aeolian Hall, London, and a private concert in the evening of that day; then come three chamber concerts, one on the 13th, at Leicester, 18th, at Manchester and 19th at Bechstein Hall, London. Again on the 21st he sings in London; 26th, Cheltenham; 27th, Rugby; 28th, London; 29th, Canterbury, and on the 30th at an orchestral concert in London. It will be a month of hard work, for special songs have been requested at two or more places, particularly Grieg songs, some of them not in Mr. Connell owes his broad knowledge of German songs, which has made him one of the best of the young singers of German lieder. He is a fine German scholar also, for Professor Stockhausen was never satisfied with anything but the best, and he found in Mr. Connell a pupil and student after his own heart. At Frankfort, Mr. and Mrs. Connell were the guests for a part of their stay of Frau Professor Stockhausen, whose interest in the young American is very keen, and she watches his career with the greatest attention. Like most young singers, Mr. Connell's voice is broadening with each year of study and experience, this being particularly noticeable in his work this autumn, his voice having gained greatly in depth and volume, a robust quality being added to what has always been a voice of beautiful quality. Mr. Connell has not been idle since his return in October, for he has sung half a dozen or more recitals, several at private houses, and he finds his time fully occupied. On November 11 he is to sing the "Song to the Evening Star," with orchestral accompaniment, at Aeolian Hall, this being particularly requested.
17The Chaplin Trio instituted a new departure in concerts last Monday afternoon when the one they gave at Aeolian Hall did not commence until 5:30, and it was a step in the right direction as to length, when carriages were asked to be ordered for "6:45." The program included three numbers by living composers, a trio for piano, violin and cello, by Schutt, five movements; a viola solo, "In Moonlight," by Elgar, and a song in manuscript, "St. John the Baptist," by W. Wolstenholme, who accompanied. Ancient composers were in larger number. Bach's concerto in C minor for two harpsichords with string quartet accompaniment; some old French cello solos; a song from the third and last book of "Songs and Aires," by John Dowland, 1562-1626; an Irish folk song, "The Cuckoo Madrigal"; some harpsichord solos; a menuet (Lady Elizabeth Spencer's), Dr. Philip Hayes, 1738-1797; "Lessons in A," Scarlatti, and "The Queen's Command," by Orlando Gibbons, the latter number being taken from "The Parthenia," a volume containing the first music printed for the keyboard, by Wm. Byrde, Dr. John Bull and Orlando Gibbons, which was published in 1611. The program also included a dance called "Canaries," from the revival of "Ancient Dances and Music," which was danced to harpsichord accompaniment, by Marjorie Jewson and Winsome Walker. Two harpsichords, dated respectively 1775 and 1780, were played. They were lent by Miss Taphouse, of Oxford. The cello solo, "La du Vaucel," was arranged from the viol de gamba score by Arnold Dolmetsch.
19The only recital that Herbert Witherspoon gave in London this year took place last Thursday afternoon, when he sang a program of twenty songs, beginning with Caldara and Mozart, and including examples by Schubert, Schumann, Richard Strauss, Kaun and Haile, ending with a group of English songs. He was in fine voice and had to repeat several of the songs. Mr. Witherspoon has sung in a dozen or more concerts during his present visit to London, and on Tuesday evening sang in Liverpool. Immediately after this concert he took the night mail for London, reaching here in time to catch the special train for Southampton, where he is taking the steamer for New York, only arriving there in time for a rush out West to sing on November 14.
21The London Trio entered upon its tenth season last Friday evening with the Schubert trio in B flat, followed by Vincent d'Indy's trio in B flat minor and an adagio and allegro by Schumann, played by Madame Goodwin and Mr. Whitehouse. Madame Lambe was the vocalist.
23At the Opera changes were made and "Manon Lescaut" was not performed on Friday evening. "La Gioconda" was heard with Madame Litvinne in the title role. Miss Bryhn, Madame Thornton, Mr. Vignas, De Luca and Luppi were others in the cast. "Carmen" was substituted on Saturday afternoon for "Madam Butterfly," Maria
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