Poznanski Brothers Grand Concert: 2nd

     The young people (brothers Poznanski) have the advantage of being quite wealthy. Therefore they demand to be evaluated favorably. They are artists; however, they are not dependent on their art.

     “We trust that these talented American artists will receive the cordial support of the musical public.”

     Concert of the Poznanski Brothers.  “Irving Hall was crowded last night on the occasion of the farewell concert of these talented artists.  They played some of Vieuxtemps’, Weber’s and Wolff’s concert works, in a style far superior to that of their first concert in New York.  There was a decided improvement also in the vocal and orchestral parts of the programme.  Miss Zelda Harrison and Mr. William Castle sang splendidly, and Carl Asnchutz’s baton was [illeg.] in the overtures of Lachner and Rossini.”

     “The Brothers Poznanski gave their second concert at Irving Hall on Saturday night, when another large audience assembled to hear these gentlemen.  We have nothing to add to our former remarks, except that the Brothers seemed to possess more confidence, and were therefore able to do better justice to themselves. They are salon players, but have not yet attained the power necessary for the concert room.  Miss Zelda Harrison sang charmingly on this occasion.  The orchestra was conducted by Mr. Carl Anschutz, whom we were glad to see once more at his post, none the worse for his recent severe accident.”

     “On Saturday evening the Messrs. J. and I. B. Poznanski gave their second grand concert at Irving Hall. The attendance was most brilliant, every seat being taken and every standing spot occupied. Irving Hall has rarely held a finer and more intelligent audience.  The orchestra on this occasion was under the direction of Carl Anschutz, and executed the overtures and the concerto accompaniments tastefully, promptly and effectively.

     Mr. I. B. Poznanski appeared to much better advantage on this occasion, for he played upon a noble instrument, a Guanerns [sic], and as fine a toned violin as we ever heard. The quality was at once appreciated in the very first notes of Vieuxtemp’s Morceaux de Concert, which Mr. Poznanski played most admirably, showing greater breadth of style, and more complete force than at his first concert. His school is of the finest, and his finish is admirable in its delicacy and refinement. His second selections were (A) Invocation, composed by himself, and the Carnival of Venice of Paganini. The first is a thoughtful and impassioned inspiration, well made and full of expression. This he played in a broad and impassioned manner showing more fervor than we thought he possessed. The Carnival was beautifully executed, but it lacked grotesqueness of manner. All its difficulties were accomplished with an easy grace, showing his thorough mastery of his instrument, but it needed that marked character, for its full and effective development. Still the public recognized the high executive merits of the performance, and awarded it an unrefusable encore; when Mr. Poznanski played the delicious little Lullaby, by Reber, we think—which he played at his first concert. It is a deliciously dreamy composition, and received full justice at the hands of Mr. Poznanski, who met with a most cordial reception throughout the evening.

     Mr. Joseph Poznanski seemed rather nervous in attacking Weber’s Concerto, but his hesitancy lasted but a minute, when he recovered himself and played with accuracy and brilliance. Admirable as this concerto is, it is not very grateful to the pianist, as his part contains little else but difficult and complicated passages, requiring little else but brilliant manipulation. Mr. Poznanski rendered full justice to his work, and received the most cordial approbation. The Scale passages which lead into the principal subject, and are marked glissando, he fingered; the effect was fine, but hardly as dashing in its impetuosity as when executed glissando.

     He next played a fantasia impromptu by Chopin, with a delicacy of sentiment and poetry of treatment which we have rarely heard bestowed upon it in this country. It was a fine and true interpretation of the beautiful thoughts of this morbidly imaginative composer. After this, he played his ‘Souvenir d’Amerique,’ which is a clever fantasie upon several negro melodies, with a running accompaniment of the banjo, well imitated. This was, of course, encored, and called the artist out again when he performed a beautiful little nocturne in a graceful, sustained and impassioned manner.

     The brothers, by this second concert, have fully established their claims as true, accomplished and conscientious artists, and to the favor of the public, which has met the very cordially.

     Miss Zelda Harrison, Mr. Castle and Signor Fossate, by their excellent singing and judicious selections, added much to the pleasure of this very agreeable concert.

     The event was sold out. The enlarged orchestra did not play well, although it was directed by Anschütz. The performance of the brothers was as usual. We find the violinist more skillful than the other brother. He either has more talent or has studied more efficiently. At least his performance is less “student-like” than the pianist’s.