Hide Article Text (OCR)
CASALS PROVES CELO MASTERY“GREATEST ARTIST THAT DRAWS A BOW” CHARMS LOCAL AUDIENCE.Miss Jessie Rigby.The cello recital by Pablo Casals, postponed from last week, was given in the auditorium last night. The large audience included many from out of town, though not all of those who were here last week could come again. Mr. Casals was received with utmost cordiality and heard with almost reverent attention. His recital will be treasured in the memories of the discerning as one of the few well-nigh perfect things vouchsafed in a lifetime.It seems almost absurd Tor the ordinary person to attempt to comment upon one whom Fritz Kreisler himself has called the greatest artist who draws the bow. But it may not be amiss to try to name some of the qualities which make Casals’ playing sc wonderful. W. J. Hendersen, the well-known critic, says that the prime re quisites of good violin or cello playing are beautiful tone, perfect intonation, and free, elastic bowing. Casals has all these to a superlative degree. His tone is something to dream of— sonorous and impressive, as in the “Kol Nidre” (which fairly wrung one’s heart!), pure, mellow and appealing, as in the adagio of the sonata, of enchanting delicacy as in “La Filense”; sometimes almost humorous—the infinite variety of tone color is marvelous. Moreover, such subtle and exquisite shading as Casals’ playing shows is possible only for the master of bowing.But besides perfection of tone, intonation and bowing, we find in Mr. Casals’ work absolute authority of interpretation. And intensity of feeling, but feeling, emotion, held always in restraint, never flamboyant, never even obvious. You may hold your breath at the sheer beauty evoked, you may be moved almost to tears by the magic loveliness of that you hear, but there is never a trace of “lachrymose utterance” in Pablo Casals playing—those seeking sensationalism must go elsewhere.One feels in hearing Casals that he is first of all an artist with a message of beauty for the world. He could have expressed this through the piano or violin, but he choose to be a cellist. His musicianship exceeds the limits of any one instrument, but through the cello he gives us a revelation of supreme beauty.Throughout the program Mr. Casals was ably seconded by Mr. Edouard Gendron, a gifted young pianist whose accompaniments were exceptionally artistic and satisfying.Last night’s recital was the last number of this year’s artist course. Lazarri of the golden voice, Thibaud the renowned French violinist, Casals the world’s greatest cellist—such a course is not to be excelled anywhere, and it is in itself a tribute to the musicianship and ability of Professor Frank Shaw. C-kitstechmthiyo“G 3c 2BushishiasbytelYcWihisp!CSENIOR PESSIMIST LONGS FOR
Newspaper Details
The Cornellian
Mount Vernon, Iowa, US
Fri, Mar 02, 1923
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
ES 17 Jul 2024
Other Publications Near Mount Vernon, Iowa
The Cornellian
