Piano Concert

“Mr. Hoffman gave the third and last of a series of three pianoforte concerts at Chickiering’s Hall on Saturday evening.  These concerts have been attended by those who have the interests of music in its best phases most at heart. Many of the audience have been pupils of this master, who have received in this public way the finished illustrations of the maxims and instruction that have been received in private. One distinguishing feature of the concerts has been the modesty of the giver of them, a quality that ever lends the highest grace to art. Most pianists make their concerts the occasion for a certain self glorification, by filling their programme with their own compositions, and ignoring those of other composers.

But Mr. Hoffman has given the place of honor to the compositions of others, and by his admirable interpretation of the works of Beethoven and others of the great masters has added to his already brilliant reputation. In this good work he has received the valuable assistance of Mr. Josph Burke, a violinist in sympathy with whatever is noblest in his art. It is cause for regret that this artist should be heard so very seldom in public. His tone is firmer, his playing broader, his expression truer than those of most of the foreign violinists who appear in our concert rooms. Perhaps it is simply because Mr. Burke will not lend himself to the ‘tricks that are vain,’ which are needed to beguile the public into appreciation, that he so seldom comes before it.

These concerts have been so healthy in their tone, so interesting, and so instructive that we can but hope that another winter will bring a renewal of them.”  [Reprinted DJM 03/25/71, p. 423]