Wolfsohn Beethoven Concert Matinee: 2nd

Includes program.

Includes program.

“The second of Mr. Wolfson’s Beethoven’s Matinées took place in Steinway’s Concert Parlor yesterday afternoon before a large audience of amateurs and professors. Mr. Wolfson’s selections were Sonata, A major, Op. 2, No. 2, Sonata, D major, Op. 28, and Sonata, D minor, Op. 31, No. 2. These selections were less trying than those he selected at his first matinee, and Mr. Wolfsohn consequently appeared to greater advantage. With the allowance made for qualifications lacking, as laid down in our first notice, Mr. Wolfsohn rendered the Sonatas in the programme very creditably, so far as the mechanical execution is concerned, although even there more clearness in the execution and evenness in the scale passages would have benefited the performance. Mr. Wolfsohn threw a shade more warmth into his Andantes and a little more fire into his Allegros on this occasion, but still more abandon would give a vitality to his interpretations which they now very much need. As he becomes more accustomed to his audience, it is possible that he will unbend and throw himself more into his work. These matinées evidence a large step in our musical progress, as they will direct attention to the whole suite of piano works of the great master. Their good success also marks an advance in taste, for it would have been difficult, if not impossible to draw together 250 people to listen to a resident professor interpret the ‘dry’ works of Beethoven. The third matinée takes place on Friday, December 7, at the same place. Mr. Pollock sang three songs in a passably acceptable manner. To-day Mr. Wolfsohn repeats matinée No. 2 at the Packer Institute, Brooklyn.”

The concert on Friday, the 22nd [sic] of this month was almost sold out despite the bad weather. As usual the musician has to first overcome his nervousness before he can rise up to his full potential. This review cannot go as much into detail about his performance as he deserves. It will be remedied at a later time. His concerts are generally highly recommended.

Pollack sang his arias with a fresh and pleasant voice and received plenty of applause. If the director of the Stadttheater materializes her plans to perform operas, Pollack would certainly become very successful.

Brief. “The concert to reveal the works of Beethoven, at Steinway Hall, was superb.”

[Begins with musical analysis and interpretation of works.] Wolfsohn played more purely and more confidently than in his first matinee, although there were many technical challenges. In his interpretation of the works he showed good understanding; however, we would have preferred if he emphasized the contrasts a little more. For example, the part of the dialog in the D minor sonata could have been played softer. We felt, the contrast of the male “bass question and the female discant answer” was not stark enough. The performance of the largo in the A major sonata was excellent, except that the left hand could have been more staccato in the semiquaver part in opposition to the legato of the right hand. There are a few more little flaws we could mention, i.e. the performance of the triplet passages in the first movement of the A major sonata slipped a little in the end; however, these are trifles that do not count in the big picture.

Pollack’s performance of Preyer’s “Ob sie wohl kommen wird” was less satisfactory and we hope he will not keep it in his repertoire.