MICHA ELMAN

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2190, 1 July 1914, Page 10

MICHA ELMAN

A WIZARD OF THE VIOLIN

. Mischa Elman,_ tho distinguished violinist, is, according to a wireless message received from his manager, looking forward with great joy to his first appearance in Wellington. Elmnu and his party aro due to arrive by the Mooraki from Sydney at about 8 o'clock this morning. Mischa Elman, the wonderful young Russian, who took his place among tho foremost violinists in the world some four or five years ago, and has never given it up, is the typo or artist whom one meets but once in a generation, and then it is not usual for him to etray so far from the Old World as these islands in the Southern Pacific. Tho writer has had tho pleasure of hearing many excellent violinists in Now Zealand during.the past quarter of a century; such a list as would include Ovide Musin, Hugo Ueerman, Promyslav, Camilla Ursa. Bessie Doyle, Marie Hall, Jan Kubclik, and others too numerous to particularise, but there- is no exaggeration in statins that Mischa Elman has_ that within him which places him high pyer each and every one of the distinguished artists mentioned. There will be those who will say that they aro accustomed to., hear hyperbolic pvaiso of the latest artist to appear before tho public, and take that kind of thing cum erano salis. Tint is unfortunately a failing not uncommon' witln and almost excusablo in a community which scarcely has .a fair, opportunity- to measure up the talent of olio artist as against another as is the case in Europe and America. Though mistakes have been made in the past where really great artists have been given "the cold shoulder," thpro cannot he an.v excuse for misplacing young Elman in the artistic registercertainly no one is likely to have the temerity' to doufit his towering genius nfter hearing him once. Mischa Elman's repute is well known to all who take even tho slightest . interest in music and musicians. In his early youth he was hailed as a prodigy, and unlike most prodigies he has developed into a virtuoso of tho violin of the highest standing, taking rank witli such exponents of tfie instrument as Fritz Kreisler and Eugen Ysaye. /Taking his technical equipment for

granted, Elman takes a foremost stand as a master of tone—.a wnrm, rich, big tone which furrows up tlio emotions, and loaves one clowing with a straiiße eestas.y at tlio conclusion of each number. In Melbourne recently lie played tho obneertos ■of Techaikovsky and Beethoven, with , orchestra, creating enthusiasm of a kind seldom witnessed in that city and simply ravished his audiences with the glorious airs of such composers as tho mighty Bach, -and the master-melodist, Ghiek. Only tho hare truth is there when it is stated that hundreds of 'disappointed people wcro turned away each of tho .concerts given in the Auditorium , . That .the writer saw for himself. In Adelaide and Sydnoy the public appreciation was .equally as enthusiastic, so that up to ■ the present tho tour has been nothing short of a \eritaMo triumph. Only two concert* are to' be given in AVelliiiKton w to-morro'.v and on Saturday- eveniiiß.