Chickering’s Rooms

“Last week at Chickering’s rooms a few invited guests listened to the piano playing of Mr. Ernst Perabo, a young pianist from the Leipsic Conservatory, who now resides in Boston. He performed Beethoven’s Sonata in B flat major, opus 106; Schuberth’s sonata, opus 142; and fifteen variations by Beethoven upon a theme from the ‘Sinfonia Eroica.’ These were all played from memory, with great technical skill and accuracy. Mr. Perabo’s touch is remarkable for clearness, favor and precision, and yet has a certain softness peculiar to itself. The severity of his early studies, especially of Bach, has given him great command over all the intricacies of fingering, and uncommon accuracy and ease in carrying on different parts of the harmony at the same time, and with full regard to their separate individuality. Yet all this wonderful power and facility of execution he makes entirely subsidiary to the meaning of the music. There is not the slightest attempt to show off, nor the least parade of difficulties overcome, but an entire absorption in the composition, and a single-minded effort to give it a faithful interpretation.”