Par 1 Mme. Marcella Sembrich and Vladimir de Pachmann were the stars that illumined Mechanics Hall yesterday [Thursday 28 September 1899], and, like them, the audiences were of the first magnitude.
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Par 2 . . .

Par 3 In the afternoon De Pachmann played with all the inspiration of his peculiar genius . . .

Par 4 Of course, Vladimir de Pachmann's pianistics and calisthenics constituted the masterpiece of the afternoon concert. To say that he is unique, inimitable and in his way wonderful, is to state but a platitude. Naturally, he chose a Chopin concerto—in this case the more familiar one in F minor—for his reappearance in Worcester. There is supposed to be peculiar propriety in this, because De Pachmann is esteemed a gifted exponent of the great Pole, but it will have to be admitted that every pianist is his own Chopin. One hears a different kind of Chopin, according as one listens to Paderewski, Rosenthal, D'Albert, Joseffy or De Pachmann.

Par 5 But there is no occasion for comparisons now. Sufficient unto the day is the pianist thereof. He was superb, and conspicuous among his admirable traits were his superlatively clear and pure tones and his wonderfully delicate finger work. Apparently he never strikes an unmusical note, even in his fortissimo, and his runs are as the rippling of a brook. Others may excel him in fire and abandon, but he is surpassed by none in the qualities first named. There was infinite variety of sensuous tone color in the fanciful tracery of the piano part, and one did not complain because he did not tear a passion to tatters. Truth to say, this concerto was not a subject for a violent exhibition of piano gymnastics, though others might have made it such. In Chopin's concertos the piano part is "the whole thing," and with De Pachmann at the solo instrument, there is absorbing entertainment for both eye and ears. Sentiment and poetry there were, after the pianist's own kind, though not the sort that some of his rivals might have put into the music. That it was convincing and complete, was evidenced by the fervor of the applause.

Par 6 De Pachmann returned not unwillingly after two recalls, and caressed and coaxed the piano for an exquisite performance of the Chopin A flat ballade. This only intensified the popular excitement, and out he came again, this time with the D flat waltz, which was most delightfully done. Mr. Kniesel conducted the orchestra during the concerto.

p.2 Mr. Wolfsohn says "Of course one of my most popular stars will be De Pachmann, the wonderful Chopin player. I have booked him for forty concerts already, and this at the beginning of the season.