MADAME CARRENO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2163, 20 August 1907, Page 1

MADAME CARRENO.

AN INTERESTING CHAT. In musical circles the all-absorbing topic of conversation is the visit to Gisborne of such a celebrity as Madamo Teresa Carreno, who for, perhaps, over two decades has been universally acknowledged as the greatest lady pianist of the day. Madame is accompanied by her husband, Signor Tagliapictra, and Mrs. Schcrek, wife of Herr Benno Sclicrck, the wellknown musical entrepreneur. The last-named was unable to make the Gisborne trip and has gone on to Auckland. The party concluded a

tour of Australia before embarking on the New Zealand trip, and on the triumphant success which everywhere attended Madame Carreno’s recitals it is needless to dwell here. A Times representative was courteously afforded an interview- at the Masonic Hotel yesterday, and in the eourso of a brief chat gleaned some details of Madamo Carreno’s career.

Madame’s is an interesting personality. Of strong physique, with classical features and considerable charm of manner, a good conversationalist, speaking English fluently, she arrests attention. Chatting pleasantly to the reporter Madamo observed that her father was Minister of Finance in Venezuela, but being exiled he camo to Now York. "At the age of 8 I made my debut on the concert platform in Now York,” remarked the groat pianist, adding archly, “so that, I think, I shall be one of the oldest artists appearing on the public platform.” Her father was eminently gifted musically and as she showed great promise even in her infantilo days ho took great pleasure in teacl ing her. It seems that he was badly treated in Venezuela—for which country she has still a strong effection, however—and when he was exiled his estates were sequestrated. “It was a great joy to me,” she added,

“ that in New York I was well received and was able to assist in supporting my people.” That her genius was early recognised is shown by the fact that she was known as the “Child Wonder.” Madamo studied diligently with increasing fame in the musical world. The became a pupil of Gottsclialk, who was then in America at the zenith of his success. A few years later she went to Europe, studied under other teachers, and met the famous Rubinstein, who was so much struck with her talent that he took her as a sort of protege pupil, and always referred to her as “his child.” “I always regard Rubinstein,” said Madame Carreno, “as by far my

greatest teacher. He did much more for me than merely give formal instruction. I used to play to him by the hour and he would sit and listen and then show me where I had done wrong, and how certain passages could be played with better effect. Such informal lessons were, you may be sure of the greatest value. 1 have always lived in an atmosphere of music. I liavo heard all the great pianists, and my musical education may be said to have been completed in this fashion. One can learn something from each artist.” When a girl of twelve Madame was introduced by Madame Erard -to Liszt, the great pianist and composer, who heard “the little South American girl” play, spoke charmingly to her and subsequently gave her much excellent advice and tuition. She recalls that he said to her, in a kind fatherly way, “Admire anyone worthy of admiration, but do not imitate him. Don’t imitate me nor any other pianist whom you admire, but keep true to yourself and your own artistic tom-

perament.” The question, “Who do you consider the greatest pianist of the day?” found Madame somewhat diffident. “Well,” she replied, “that is rather a difficult question to answer. There are a largo number of splendid players now before the public, but not many great artists. You see, one is quite different from the other. I should,

however, place D’Albort as one of the greatest pianist of the day. Paderewski is extremely clever and Packmann plays Chopin most beautifully, but often spoils his effects by his eccentricities.” The speaker did not add, as is common knowledge that tho famous Leschetitzky, a few years ago, said that the five greatest pianists in the world were “©’Albert, Carreno, Busoni, Paderewski and Sauer.”

After her first Parisian visit Madame made the acquaintance of England, and until she was 18 played regularly in London during the summer months, and travelled in the Provinces with Colonel Mapleton’s Concert Co., as solo pianist, in the autumn and winter months. Dr. Cowan was accompanist to the party. The mention of this led the artist to refer to a meeting with the celebrated composer, which she had some time ago, when he recalled with satisfaction his own visit to Australia some years back. During this period she alternated between England and Continental cities. During tho FraueoPrussian war she took up her residence in England altogether, and remained there some years, playing in all parts of the country. She then made her home in the United States, and subsequently returned to Europe, living mostly in Germany. She was constantly engaged in recitals. Of the honors lavished upon Ma’dame Carreno in all parts of the world, she is somewhat modest of speaking. No episode in her varied career, however, is more remantic than the visit she made to Venezuela on the completion of a national hymn she was asked to compose. Madame, who is a grand niece of Simon Bolivar, tho liberator of his country from ■Spanish rule, was for some months the

guest of the State, and the greatest hospitality and honors possible were accorded her. Touching on her homo life, this was a theme dear to Madame’s heart, “My art lias always been first,” she said, “except, of course, my children. In' fact it is quite a family joke that there is rivalry between them—

though it is only a joke. Are my children musical? Well, yes, I may say they are. My daughter, Mrs. Illois, who was recently married, has decided talent. Her compositions are wonderful, but she is too diffident. My other daughters also aro musical. My two babies, aged 14 and 12, I

have left at school in Melbourne. The 14 year old girl shows quito a pathetic love for her piano, preferring it lo any play at all, and for her ago she plays remarkably well.” With regard to her son, Madame said, “He is studying under Signor Tosti just now. Somo time ago ho was bitten with the modern money-making crazo and imagined he would make a business man. So ho threw over tlio violin for a counting-house. Ho found out his mistake, however, and now is working hard witli Signor Tosti. But I am talking too much and I am sure you don’t want to hear a mother’s praise of her children.” By the way, a pretty little romance is mentioned by the Australian papers in connection with Madame Carreno’s daughter, Miss Tercsitn Tagliapetria. She was recently married in Melbourne to Colonel Blois, an English army officer. As Mrs. Sclierek confided to a journalist: “Colonel Blois had been in lovo with her for somo time, but Teresita. was not very strong, and her mother brought her out to Australia, thinking the change would do her good. But he followed her out, and her parents consented to the marriage. Teresita’s husband has a fine tenor voice and is taking lessons witli a view to appearing in iniblic. Mrs. Blois is very dark and Spanish looking, and is quite a little genius; plays exquisitely. She has appeared in public often, and has an engagement next year in Berlin. Isn’t it a little romance.” It seems Madame Carreno wanted her daughter to be with her for twelve months, but would not stand in the way of the marriage.

Speaking: of her present tour Madame said it was her first visit to Australia and it had been an exceed-

ingly happy one. She was delighted with the country and the people. The amount of musical talent she had seen in Melbourne and Sydney had quite astonished her. In her worldwide travels she had not seen anything to equal it. The appreciation of the public was genuine and showed real insight and musical taste, but this was not the only ground she had for expressing' her admiration of the talent in Australia. She had heard a number of children play the piano and the violin, and the tone they got from the instruments and their manipulation and musical taste were altogether beyond what she had expected. Many of the children were really gifted to a remarkable degree. Often she

had been "touched to see the wholeheartedness of the audiences she played to in Melbourne and Sydney when the music was quite serious and very intricate. Working men had been as appreciative of lior performances as anyone, and had gou© to her after the concerts and thanked her with enthusiasm, which went right to her heart. The voices she had heard in Australia were very beautiful, but she had been prepared for that, as she knew beforehand that the Australian voice was exceptionally fine. Madame, questioned concerning New Zealand, included the Dominion in her remarks upon Australasia, until it was pointed out that wo object to sink our individuality in this way. Laughingly she made her apologies. She was also in love with this beautiful country, though she had not seen it in its best climatic garb, aud admired the people. She found audiences of a- high musical taste, especially in the cities, mentioning Wellington and Christchurch in particular. In general Australia has made more advance in tho art, but New Zealand takes high rank and shows excellent discrimination between good and bad art. Madame takes pleasure in the warm reception accorded her in this colony.

A question was asked concerning the artist’s favorite composer. Ma dame replied that sho delighted in the works of all the really great composers, hut had an especial affection for Beethoven and Chopin. She always endeavored to give the public tlio best that was in her—chose works of artistic value and tried to interpret them in a manner which would make their beauty appeal to the hearts of all present. If there was one piece of which she was fonder than another it was Beethoven’s great “Emperor Concerto.”