A MODEST REQUEST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 880, 28 July 1910, Page 4

A MODEST REQUEST.

■CAHBENO IN THE COUNTRY. There is something sublime in the manner in which some people ask for favours. During her recent tour through the North Islaud, Carreno, deemed by many to be the greatest living pianist, and certainly one whose artistic pre-eminence is beyond all question, received from Patea the following letter:— "Being a musical studeirt, I am delighted to hear you are paying Ha vera a visit. I intend going to Hawera, where I study,' for the purpose of attending your concert in the evening, but I am wondering if it will be asking too much for you to play to mo in the afternoon some of the pieces I am studying. If you will be 60 good as to do so, will you kindly let me know where I may find you during the afternoon, and which time will suit you best? I am suro it will be the greatest pleasure to both my teacher and myself to meet you and talk about musio. I am entering for the musical competitions at Auckland in November. I intend competing against professionals, and the pieces chosen to be played are as follows (names given). I shall be delighted if you find you could plav one or two of these for mo on Monday." Horr Benno Scherek, Carreno/s manager, replied in all seriousness :T-"Madame Carreno lias handed me your letter of the mil inst. In answer, I beg to say that Madame regrets thai she cannot see visitors on the day of the concert. A private recital, such as; you ask for, might be arranged for you in the afternoon, the fee for such being two hundred guineas. It would be necessary to have the recital in the hall, as the concert piano which Madame Carreno uses will be there."