University of Virginia Library

Intriguing

The first half of the program
closed with what was perhaps the
most intriguing selection played on
Friday evening — a transcription of
Franz Schubert's Variations on a
Theme from Herold's "Marie",
originally for piano four hands. It is
hard to tell whether or not
Schubert turned out a piece of pure
musical corn or deliberately
parodied the trite salon variations
of the day that were the stock in
trade of such now dimly
remembered composers as Hummel
and Dussek. Mark de Voto's
transcription is highly soloistic and
extremely difficult, but Mr. Lazar
and the band met the challenge
head on and turned out a brilliant
performance very much in keeping
with the spirit of the selection.