Richard Hoffman Piano-forte Soirée: 3rd

“Mr. Hoffman brought to a conclusion on Saturday evening the short series of pianoforte soirées that he has recently given at Chickering’s Hall in connection with Mr. Burke and Mr. Bergner. They have had more the character of social gatherings of musical friends than of formal concerts. Very many of those who attended either now or formerly held the relation of pupil to the concert giver, and felt doubtless an added interest on that account. Mr. Hoffman seems also to have had them in mind in the selection of his programme, for his has evidently not sought for out-of-the-way and unfamiliar pieces, which would have been easy to find, but has taken those likely to be familiar to his audience, such as Mendelssohn’s ‘Serious Variations’ and ‘Songs without Words,’ Gottschalk’s ‘Last Hope,’ Chopin’s B flat minor ‘Scherzo,’ and a mazurka and waltz by him, and Thalberg’s ‘Home, Sweet Home.’ It is in listening to the interpretation of such well-known compositions by such players as Mr. Hoffman that the great distance is most readily seen that lies between the performances of the most advanced amateur and the artist. Every phrase takes on a new meaning, and the thought of the composer stands out clear, forcible, and with new and unexpected shades of sentiment.

These concerts of Mr. Hoffman’s have been marked by every expression of satisfaction on the part of those who have attended them. They will, we hope, be continued in future winters, for it would be a pity that the talents of our foremost resident artist should be given entirely to the task of instructing others to do what they could never hope to perform so well as their master.” 

“the talented pianist interpreted an excellent programme to the most select and refined of audiences.”