TOSCHA SEIDEL.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17472, 5 June 1922, Page 12

TOSCHA SEIDEL.

STORY OF HIS VIOLIN. Melbourne people, even those who 3re not musically educated, will like Tcschn Seidel (says the Melbourne "Argrus"). A Dart from the fact that he is a famous violinist, he has an engaging personality, and speaks modestly concerning his triumphs, ihough frankly delighted because of them. llis blue eyes shone when, shortly after liis arrival by the Sydney express, he spoke about his travels in many lands. For nine years he has travelled almost continuously, always with hia mother, who is still with him, ar.d be asserts proudly that when he has visited Mew Zealand and bouth America he will have circumnavigated the world. Vladi/nir, Lis only brother, aged 15 yeurs, i 3 accompanying him.

l'oscha carried his violin from the Elation. "One does not boast about one's violin," he said, in reply to a question. "It is my sweetheart—tlie love of my lite; and we never quarrel. The first violin I used, as a small boy, cost 25 roubles (about X'2 lf,s). I played on it before the Masonic Club in Berlin, when I was only 11 years of age, and the vice-president, Judge Stern, who was head of the supreme Court, became invested, and invited me to his home. 'You shall not play on that piece of wood any lrEfier,' he said, and told me to po to a famous maker to obtain a new violin at nis obtuse. I went, expecting to get one worth about 100 roubles, but Judge Stern had communicated with the maker, and I left with a rew violin valued at 6500 marks (about £2£o). Ho was even more wonderiul to me, for two and a half years later, when I returned to Berlin, he presented me with the violin I now use. which he had bought for £5,000 marks (£1000) from a great artist who was in difficulties. It is a Guadagninin, and is worth to-day probably £8500." Toscha's first important recital was at Christiania, Norway, when he wa:3 14 years old. He is now 22. He has appaired many times in Norway, and on the last occasion the King and Queen attended no fewer than five times. Later the artist was received in airJience by the King, who presented him with a jewelled tie-pin, bearing the monogram of the King and Queen. He spent several years in New York, and during the last twelve months has had highly successful seasons in London and in the principal cities of the Continent.