JASCHA HEIFETZ

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 278, 18 August 1921, Page 4

JASCHA HEIFETZ

c--THE VIRTUOSO INTERVIEWED, “I think New Zealand people are intensely musical. They like good music, and object to music that is not good. Jascha Heifetz, tho violin virtuoso, made the foregoing statement to a ■Dominion reporter yesterday. "Well. ’’ he began. Heiietz looking rather bored when approached by the reporter; "I first began my playing when I was three years old in V ilna, Russia. At seven I played in Petrograd, and learned there from Auer. then

The reporter interrupted him. "We know all that," he sau., ‘ will you answer a few questions instead ot beamed. "My dear fellow,” he said, "I shall be dqlighted. Ivc been go used to rattling off my family kistoij , • . but go ahead." The reporter “went ahead. lie lust asked what were the violinists favourite works. , <T "No on© favourite,’ bo answered. z i like above all the violin concertos of Brahms, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn, the nocturnes of Chopin, and Beethoven g 'Chorus of the Dervishes’ and Turkish March. They appeal - to mo , beyond words. The latter two are Auer s transcriptions for tho violin. .Then Heifetz unbent altogether and chatted away of his experiences in the north I had a great reception in Auckland, he said. <r lt was wonderful. I found the audience keenly appreciative. And from Auckland I went to Rotorua. Having been there, I am surprised at the lack of knowledge shown by. Americans about New Zealand. I read what Mr. Boyco said in a Chicago newspaper, and it certainly amused me. However, 1 mustn . boast. At Whakarewarewa one morning, out for a jaunt with my camera, I saw a crowd of Maori women sitting by a whare Without hesitating I snapshotted them. As I was walking off I was astounded to hear a Maori woman say 'Sav if vou’d 'been decent enough to ask us if" you could take our photo, we wouldn’t have -minded. But you were very rude.’ I was astounded You see, I’d merely done what I would have done if I had been in the East —in China or India. I think I did the right thing then, for T immediately humbly apologised and they seemed quite pleased. .1 must say that the Maoris are a fine and most intelligent race.’’ "I'm sorrv I can’t praise your railways. I had a game of hide and seek in my sleeping car. Every time I went out in the corridor I’d bump into someone and have to dodgo into another door to allow them to pass. And, you know, one isn’t always welcome.