THE ELLWOOD TRIO.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1773, 11 June 1913, Page 4

THE ELLWOOD TRIO.

BACK FROM EUROPE.

CONCERNING MUSIC A MUSICIANS

A little over llirco years ago tliero appeared in Wellington three talented Chiistchurch children, Georgo ('cellist), Harry (violinist), and Polly • (pianist) Ellwood, whoso singular aptitudo in conrjuering tho complexities of fairly difficult music aroused {lie admiration of many, and, as the result of their enthusiasm, the children toured New Zealand as a concert party to raise funds for their further tuition in Europe. Tho tour was only fairly successful, but with tho funds accruing from some farewell concerts, and the help of admiring friends, tho three wero eventually sent to Europe. Yesterday they returned to Now Zealand by tho Corinthic, and left last evening for their homo in Christchurch.

Mr. Harry Ellwood, a fine violinist, witli much natural talent, stated, in tho course of an interview, that roughly their time had been spent in Belgium and Berlin. After spending some weeks in London they journeyed l to Brussels, whero they met Jean Gerardy, tho great 'cellist, to whom they carried a letter of introduction. Littlo George Ellwood had been strongly recommended to him as a'cellist of exceptional promise. That local judgment was sound was proved lJ?„.Gerar(tys unfeigned delight 'at tho youngster's playing, and for nearly three years Georgo lias been .undergoing special tuition from tho famous virtuoso, who has not charged the boy one penny for his services. "You may not know what that means out lieio," said Harry Ellwood with enthusiasm, "but there are tcachers not to be compared with Gerardy who charge you 60 marks for hearing ono piny Seforo they accept ono as a pupil—that apart from any big fees they might nominate on approval.

"Gerardy, you know, is a professor at the Liege Conservatoire, which ranks second to the Paris Conservatoire, and wo went to Liege on the advice of Gerardy, and so that Georgo could take adv&ntago of his generosity. Wo were - there for eighteen months, and in sorao weeks Georgo would bo given as many as six or seven lessons a week. At Liege I .was under a great violinist and Ysaye's best pupil. When Gerardy found it necessary to movo to Berlin wo went with him, and Georgo continued to enjoy the same privileges as at Liege. Gerardy was a great help to me, and when ho was going to play trios with other great artists, perhaps Ysaye or Kreislcr, ho would rehearse with us. What we wcro able to learn in that way could hardly be estimated. ' I was under' Theodore Spooring in Berlin, aud Polly took lessons from. Alberto Jonas, a remarkably able Spanish pianist.

"Berlin'is the place for a. student to go to—all the latest masters and artists aro there—Kreisler, Flescli, Spcering, Petchnikoff, Ysaye, Burmester, d'Albert, Lahvinne,' Carreno—to mention a few. There aro said to be 25,000 American musical students in Berlin alone, and it is significant that tho big artists say that America is tho only country to make money in."

And having heard them all, whom would you say was the finest violinist?

"Ysayo is admitted to bo tho greatest. Personally, I prefer Ivreisler. To me, Ivreislor's playing has more spontaneity, and is more vital. Ysaye is grand in ton? and technique, but he made mo feel sleepy. That is never the caso. with Kreisler. Then there are so many fine artists that aro never heard of out hero who rank very high on tlio Continenthigher, for instance, than Kubelik. How" often do you hear of Mcsch, or Petciiiiikoff, or even Burmester?

"There are, however, only two great 'cellists—Gerardy aud Paulo Casales. Casals i 6 li Spaniard—he is a wonderful artist, a genius, and what a favourite with the public! Hugo Becker is another good 'cellist, who is to be found in Berlin.

"When there I met Miss E?ne Queree, who was taking, pianoforte lessons from Madame Carreno, under whom she has made great progress. No one could help being musical who has lived very long in Berlin, '['here aro big orchestras in all tho cafes and gardens, all playing the best of music. Everyone, even tho poorest people, seem to know all the operas note perfect. That is the effect of every'town in Germany having' its own opera season and subsidised opera. It is quite commonplace to hear bays in the street whistling intricate airs from an opera. Then; there aro the orchestras—the Philharmonic and Blutner's, who give two concerts each per week. Each programme includes a Beethoven Svmphony'without fail. That means that four are played every week, and as Beethoven only composed nine, you can imagine how well both players and audience know every bar/of each. Beethoven is a religion in Germany. He stands for tho purest in music, and nothing has ever been written that is more musically perfect. All tho same, I became rather tired of Beethoven's Symphonies. Tho prices for these concerts range from one to six marks, and the grand opera prices range from one to ten marks (Ist. to 10s.)."