Debussy Isle of Joy

Fantastic live piano of virtuoso piece. 1981 Vintage video. Download at: http://www.drslawfirm.com/isleofjoy.mp4

"Surpasses Rachmaninoff" . . . "In the same category as Arthur Rubinstein"
Washington Times-Herald, Washington, DC newspaper review by noted music critic Glenn Dillard Gunn,December 3, 1951 Washington, DC National Gallery of Art Concert
http://www.drslawfirm.com/timesherald.pdf
Program for National Gallery of Art Concert, December 2, 1951:
http://www.drslawfirm.com/natgalleryprogram.jpg
http://www.loc.gov/performingarts/encyclopedia/collections/dillgunn.html
http://www.nga.gov/press/2004/releases/spring/concert.shtm

"David Smith, 'American Horowitz'"
"David Smith's first Washington recital occurred last season at the National Gallery of Art. His playing, easily transcending all problems of technique and interpretation, was magnificent. He has the heart and hands to give the piano a song all the world should rejoice to hear." Music critic Donald Vail Allen, August 1952, Times-Herald, Washington, DC
http://www.drslawfirm.com/americanhorowitz.pdf

"To David Smith, wonderful talent and fine musician--with my wishes for a splendid career--Cincinnati, October 20, 1943"
Inscribed photograph, Arthur Rubinstein
http://www.drslawfirm.com/rubinsteinphoto.jpg

Arthur Rubinstein Predicts a "Great Future" for David Smith
Cincinnati Enquirer 1943
http://www.drslawfirm.com/cincinnatirubinstein1943.jpg

"I would gladly teach you for the pleasure of it." Letter to David Smith from Arthur Rubinstein, April 5, 1945
http://www.drslawfirm.com/rubinsteinltr.pdf

"David Smith, 20-year old pianist from Portland, Ore., made his New York debut last night in Town Hall before a large audience which included prominent musicians." . . . "[T]he young artist lived up to the reports of his prowess. The fleetness, smoothness and facility displayed, notably in the opening Bach-Busconi Toccata, Aria and Fugue in C major and in the following Beethoven Sonata in F minor, Opus 57 ("Appassionata"), combined with an extraordinary vitality, produced a brilliant effect." SMITH IN RECITAL DEBUT; 20-Year-Old Pianist Heard at Town Hall in Evening, New York Times, November 6, 1944 (review by "R.L.") Available at NYT Select (subscription required):
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70F15FB3D5D177B93C4A9178AD95F408485F9

"To David Smith, with best wishes for a successful artistic career." Inscribed drawing from Josef Hoffman, June 22, 1941
http://www.drslawfirm.com/hoffmandrawing.jpg

"During the 25 or more years that the Toledo Piano Teachers' Association has sponsored piano recitals by visiting artists, it has brought to the city several pianists who later climbed to the top among their concert artists. . . But none earned a better claim to the prophecy of future greatness than the 19-year old pianist, David Smith, who played before a capacity audience in the Museum of Art yesterday afternoon. . . When an artist combines brilliant, clean-cut technique with poetic and emotional playing, when memory and playing coordination work together perfectly together, and when all join to hold the constant interest and enthusiam of even the very young in the audience, the best title to give him is the 'American Horowitz.'

STYLE LIKE HOROWITZ

And his style of playing suggests Horowitz, for there is no wasted motion. He goes about his business with a nonchalance that all but belies the tremendous difficulties he is encompassing. Every move of arm or body finds its culmination at the tips of his fingers, and always there is melody sung with clearness and beautiful nuance."

Toldeo Blade, Monday, April 17, 1944, p. 17, "David Smith's Playing Lauded, Young Pianist Termed 'American Horowitz'" (review by J. Harold Harder). Available at:
http://www.drslawfirm.com/1944toledoblade.jpg
(Reprinted with the permission of Toledo Blade)
http://www.drslawfirm.com/toledoblade1944.jpg

"Smith Performance of Beethoven's Concerto Called 'Unbelievably Fine'"
The Charlotte News, Feb. 28, 1951
http://www.drslawfirm.com/charlotte1951.jpg

David Smith, New American Pianist
http://www.drslawfirm.com/newamericanpianist.pdf
http://www.drslawfirm.com/nap.pdf

"David Smith, fresh from Cincinnati, is a fiery young man who has a fine technical command and gives plenty of evidence of being excellently trained. He also illustarted in his Town Hall concert last night an extraordinary imagination, particulalrly in his Debussy and Ravel pieces." New York Post, November 6, 1944. http://www.drslawfirm.com/1944ucinn.pdf

"David Smith's Talent Wows Houston Audience'
Houston Chronicle. May 25, 1975
http://www.drslawfirm.com/may25_1975.jpg

"Once-Famed, Retired Pianist Creates Stir All Over Again"
Houston Chronicle, May 22, 1975
http://www.drslawfirm.com/returnmay22_1975.pdf

"Pianist Rated Among Finest"
Oregon Journal, 1944
http://www.drslawfirm.com/oregonjournal1944.jpg