Hero from Long Branch

The musical hero of Paris last week was a 27-year-old pianist from Long Branch, N.J. (pop. 23,000) named Julius Katchen. Two thousand filled the Theatre des Champs-Elysees to hear his program of Brahms, Schumann, Chopin and Liszt, cheered up four encores and, at the end, crowded around the stage shouting for more. Verdict of the serious-minded critic of Paris-Presse on the performance: "A miracle of faith and fervor."

After eight years abroad, Julius Katchen is convincing European audiences that he is not merely one of the best of young American pianists but, more simply, that he is one of the best of all pianists living today. Last month, after listening to him in a program of Beethoven, including the difficult 55-minute "Diabelli" Variations, the London Times granted him the full range of pianistic talents: "Demoniac violence . . . ethereal cantabile . . . the phenomenal technique of a virtuoso and the vision of a seer." Amsterdam's Het Parool called his playing "sublime ... an overwhelming experience."

In Ankara, Turkey, he is remembered for still another quality. Playing for a packed house, Katchen was nonplused to see the whole crowd get up and walk out, but he improvised for several minutes until everybody returned. Absorbed in

Brahms, Katchen had not noticed that the chandeliers had been swaying. Reported Turkish headlines next day: HERO PIANIST REMAINS CALM DURING EARTHQUAKE. AVERTS PANIC.

Philosophy First. Although he has successfully stormed Europe's capitals, Julius Katchen is little known in his own country. The son of a pianist-mother and amateur-violinist father, he made his debut as an eleven-year-old prodigy with the Philadelphia Orchestra and played with the best U.S. orchestras and in solo recitals until he was 14.

At that point, Katchen pere put his foot down on the budding concert career, sent the boy to high school and Haverford College. Julius buckled down to his studies, majored in philosophy and literature, became a Phi Beta Kappa and won the scholarship (awarded by the French government) that took him to Paris. In 1946 he played at the first UNESCO Festival and, with a pocketful of fine notices, set off on the rounds of European and Near Eastern music centers.

Digging Deeper. Periodically Pianist Katchen returned to his homeland for a recital. "My technique," says Katchen. "caused many critics to classify me as strictly a virtuoso; a technician who is able to race brilliantly through Liszt Rhapsodies and Chopin Etudes." As recently as 1951, Manhattan critics felt that he had plenty of speed but not enough depth, and Julius returned to his Left Bank apartment in Paris and more Euro pean appearances.

This winter, in programming Beethoven's "Diabelli" Variations and last sona tas, the pianist from Long Branch dug into some of the deepest works in the repertory. But U.S. audiences may have to wait until next season to hear him in anything except records (London). Meanwhile, he is considering tours of Australia, Egypt and Turkey.

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