Zimbalist and His Famous Violins

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 47, 18 May 1927, Page 11

Zimbalist and His Famous Violins

BEATING henry ford a LIFE OF ROMANCE ■When Efrem Zimbalist plays for Auckland this evening his melodies ■will be produced from a violin which has never been played on in public for 100 years. It is the rare and valuable Lamoureux “Strad” for which the celebrated violinist raid over £"10,000 not a year ago. lio one knows how M. Zimbalist has treasured that instrument on the journey from America. While the Tofua tossed and rolled on the last days of the journey from the Islands to New Zealand, he coaxed sweet melody from it in his cabin —melody that was born of the stormy seas, for Zimbalist loves the tempest and the sound of storm. What is still more interesting is that Zimbalist won the Lamoureux in a battle of dollars with the famous Henry Ford, who recently has taken to buying valuable fiddles. "What would t e want it for?’ asked the musician. “He is only making it difficult for performing artists to buy these rare and wonderful treasures on which we can play.” BEST IN THE WORLD Zimbalist has the finest private collection of violins in the world. The next best is owned by the King of Spain. Three instruments made by the famous Stradivarius are numbered among his collection. Zimbalist’s life reads like a romance. He has known the pageantry of the Russian Court at the time when Rasputin held sway and the first rumbles of coming revclution were making themselves heard; he has toured the East three times, and the magic of it is in his blood; his wife is Alma Gluck, the celebrated soprano; he owus an island near New London, Connecticut, America; he has played before the famous people of Europe on memorable occasions; and he has written a light opera. And yet he is simplicity itself, with a wonderful enthusiasm for literature and the collection of old ivory and tapestry. Thau is partly why he loves the East—every antique shop is au Aladdin’s cave to him. BACK TO RUSSIA Zimbalist Is beginning a world tour In New Zealand which will end in Russia. He is returning for the first time since the revolution as the guest of the Russian Government, and he is looking forward to the visit with the interest of one who has been an exile for many years. Born in Rostpff, on the River Don, In 1889. Zimbalist soon showed that he had marked musical ability, and at the age of eight he was first violinist in the orchestra of the Opera House at Rostoff. Later he became a pupil of the celebrated master, Leopold Auer, now an old mt.n in New York, who escaped from Russia and arrived penniless in America, only to make himself just as famous there. Elman and Heifetz are also pupils of Auer, and periodically they all gather together in New York. “I LOVE LONDON” Zimbalist first appeared in London In 1907. “How I love London,” he said last evening. “It is my favourite city in all the world. It is the only city where I do not mind the wind and the rain and the fogs.” Zimbalist has most tender memories of the late Czar Nicholas of Russia. "I have never met a man with more personal charm,” he said. “I played before him quite often. On one occasion, just before I was 21 and due for military service, I played before him in my native town. After the performance I was approached by the military governor, who handed me an exemption from military service, ordered by the Czar.” MESSAGE FROM FRANCES ALDA With Zimbalist lies the honour of exploiting the work of many of the more modern composers. He was largely responsible for making known the works of Hubay and -Max Reger, and more recently Tor Aulin. As a composer he has made a big name for himself, and he also finds time to compose songs anti pianoforte pieces which have won popularity among musicians

aa well as the general public. Though there is no more Intense admirer of the old masters than Zimbalist, he has broken away from the old hackneyed concert programme. He is a pianist of high standard and has accompanied his wife on the concert platform. Last, but not least, Zimbalist has brought a message from Frances Alda (Madame Sattl Cazza) the Christchurch woman who has won fame abroad. He saw her before he left America, and she told him to tell the people of New Zealand how excited she was about returning to her native country.