(Edited by Mrs J. W. F. Harrison)
p. 69
Readers of the "Bi-Monthly", will no doubt be glad
to possess, in the frontispiece to the present number, an
excellent photograph of the incomparable artist who shared in
the triumphs of the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra at their
concert on April 9th. M. De Pachmann is a curious and unique
character. He has, according to several American critics,
something Asiatic in his blood; he was born at Odessa and
therefore they say, a spice of the Turk is in his constitution
which accounts for certain peculiarities of temperament.
Whatever his origin his command of all the resources of piano
playing is still most wonderful and without belittling other
players, it is safe to say that no living pianist is capable of
giving such supreme delight to his hearers as this gifted artist
now in his sixtieth year. The effects produced by his mastery
over technique were almost bewildering. Several in the audience
thought there was "something inside the piano," others declared
that they heard "echoes" while the more stolid and experienced
in such matters were equally carried away by the amazing
accuracy, dexterity and lightness of touch, and general
perfection of his style. As if to vindicate the assertion that
he only plays or chooses to play pieces of a lighter calibre, he
gave for his first encore the D minor prelude of Chopin, and no
fault could be found with the fiery reading of this last and
most tempestuous of the
p. 70
twenty-four. Some of the
nuances obtained by him in the Liszt etude were almost
unpianistic (sic) suggesting an ethereal flute. The chromatic
groups under his fingers were spun or reeled off as if by
machinery and yet there was conveyed throughout the very spirit
of fantastic, poetic sympathy, bringing out what was best in
each composition. The occasional trill was heard to be
marvellously loud, firm and distinct, in fact very unlike most
trills, which are for the most part weak and wabbling things,
"ornaments" indeed but not part of the whole. It will be a loss
to music should M. De Pachmann immediately retire and all will
hope to hear him again at no distant day.