Oscar Pfeiffer Concert: 3rd

“We did not expect to see such a good house at a place of amusement during Holy Week as attended Mr. Oscar Pfeiffer’s concert at Steinway Hall last evening. The attractions certainly were very great, as the distinguished pianist was assisted by Signora Altieri, Signor Randolfi, baritone; Mr. J. B. Poznanski, violinist, and Mr. Walter R. Johnston, organist. Mr. Pfeiffer’s broad, vigorous style of playing, something of the now rarely heard Wiener school, becomes more attractive and enjoyable on frequent hearing; and rarely have we heard, even in this musical metropolis, such a volume of organ like tones evoked from a modern grand as came from beneath his fingers last night in his own transcriptions. There are many pianists who may equal him in mere technique, in arpeggio, chorded or chromatic passages for instance, but few or none in communicating power, life, and expression to those passages. In every one the true artist was shown, and each transcription became an intelligible and eloquent interpreter of the subject it was based upon. The other artists, without exception, did remarkably well. Signora Altieri, though suffering from indisposition, was successful enough to be encored in each of her selections.”    

“Mr. Oscar Pfeiffer gave on Wednesday his third concert, playing three of his best compositions—among them a theme with variations for the left hand only—was remarkable. So much of our pianism is prestidigitation—billiard playing over the keys—the washing out of themes on the wash-board of the piano—that we wonder that original feeling and true musical conception is left among our players. The air is full of variations, and is as common as any air we hear thematized and rilled and trickled and poured out of the piano. Tempests are brewed on the smallest excitement that the teapot of inspiration can supply; and we have no less than half a dozen pianists religiously devoted, more or less, to the office of making not very strong tea. But we did not mean to complain harshly of Mr. Pfeiffer, who is every whit as edifying as Gottschalk usually is; we merely intend to say that the fashionable echoes of the piano produces much style, few ideas, and very little profit. Mr. Pfeiffer is one of the very best technical pianists that have visited us for years, and it would be impossible to dispute the very considerable popularity which a player of his brilliancy and nerve is bound to have with the public to whom he appeals. Among musicians, so vigorous a technique as that of Mr. Pfeiffer’s must be rated at its true value. We cannot promise that Mr. Pfeiffer will play us too many pieces beside his own; but he has given us, once or twice, some taste of his culture in this respect, and may need to be encouraged to perform these standard studies which a fashionable pianist is too easily tempted to neglect. During the concert at Steinway’s on Wednesday, the new baritone, Signor Randolfi, made his American debut to several flattering encores. The little nervousness and haste at the beginning of his performance wore off speedily, and he gave us Di Provenza with a clear, high baritone, and a breadth of feeling which is rare. Mr. Poznanski can play us many things better than the Star-Spangled-Banner variations of Wednesday night—the oft-played Carnival of Venice, for instance, for he is a skillful player to say the least.”  

The concert was very well attended. The performances of Pfeiffer and his supporters received deserved applause. Randolfi made a very good impression with his strong, flexible and pleasant sounding voice and his artistic performance.

“….Mr. Pfieffer’s vigorous style of playing was heard to full advantage in the fantasies of his concluding programme. A piece for the left hand created the liveliest interest, and exhibited his extraordinary technical skill. Signora Altieri distinguished herself at this concert, in an aria from ‘Simon Bocanegra.’ There was a debutant, also, in the person of Sig. Rodolfi, a high baritone who gives signs of good culture.”