A WONDER CHILD'

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2210, 24 July 1914, Page 7

A WONDER CHILD'

GENIUS TO WILLY FERRERI. Great interest (says the "Musical \ Courier'-') centres in the announcement: that the wonderful child conductor, Willy Ferrero, .will be heard in a series, of concerts at the Albort Hall with the New Symphony Orchestra if the question of'the license governing the ap-\ pearance of children on the London concert stage does not prohibit. The boy (who, it is claimed, is a great genius) is under <tlie personal management of -Mr. Jouques, editor of the London. Jewish Journal, whoso object in taking over the entire management of; the boy's aiTairs is that all profit made 'from his appearances shall .go .to, £stab-' lishing a fund for his education. As Eoon as a certain sum is realised, the boy will not appear in public any more as a wonder child, but will be put ill charge of instructors, who will look after his general education as well as that of developing his extraordinary, gifts. ' . , At the present time he has no knowledge of music acquired; by training or by the imparting of musical knowledge by any one, except that which he has absorbed by listening to the singing of his mother, who was a professional singer of some renown, and "gave many , concerts in public, in Italy and ill tho United States, where the boy was bom —in Troy, Now York. As to his parents' nationality, if may be interesting to mention 'that- his mother was born in Odessa, Russia, and his father in Italy. ' Tho boy's great gifts are Ins wonderful ear and-innate musical feeling for the'mood and character .of a composi-; tion aud its tempo and rhythm. The manner of his acquiring a repertoire is, > accomplished by. first hearing a work played on the piano, which if lie does not like he peremptorily rejects: but, if, on tho contrary; ho is well pleased v with it he then has ah orchestral rehearsal, a day or two before the con- ' cert.' when the . concert-master • of tho. orchestra, or some one selected for tho purpose, conducts tlio 'work:, once through, so that he may hear tho parts as written for tho different sections, and instruments of the orchestra. This ; one bearing is sufficient for , him..-.-.to. - "hear" the necessary detail, and .he is. then ready to conduct the work himself. Tins is all very marvellous when one remembers that the boy t is only seven and a half years old. As for 1 "teciininue" of conducting, his guardians affirm that from his second year lie' lias demonstrated bis gifts in, that direction. After his Tecent appearance - in St. Petersburg, wliero he conducted : before the Tsar and Tsarina and ■•■tho • Russian Court, lie received manv. vahu able presents, From the Tsar, it may lie mentioned, lie received a cheque for five liundrd pounds for the hour lie con- ■ ducted at the court; this is to be placed to tho credit of the fund for his future education.