SHURA CHERKASSKY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 383, 18 June 1928, Page 13

SHURA CHERKASSKY

BOY-GENIUS ARRIVES ON NIAGARA A MUSICAL SENSATION A quiet, serious-faced lad of 16 years, Shura Cherkassky, as he paced the deck of the R.M.S. Niagara this morning, somewhat belied the impression one had formed from American journals of Cherkassky, the greatest sensation in the present musical age. Only when he talked of his beloved Chopin did one catch an inner glimpse through those quiet, dreamy eyes of the soul of a genius. In many respects Shura Cherkassky is a natural boy, despite the fact that the path mapped out for him in life has taken him away from the companionship of other boys. He has not attended school, and his general education has been placed in the hands of two private tutors. His musical education. is in the hands of the famous Josef Hoffman, who supervises his public performances and dictates all contracts entered into. For Hoffman, one of the greatest masters of the age, has under his care a boy-artist whom critics claim will probably develop into one of the greatest geniuses of the century. BULLETS AND HUNGER Shura, who left Russia when he was 11 years of age, told a Siun representative that he could well remember his early life. Quite simply he added that he would never forget it. His father, who is travelling with him, stated that in Odessa, the famous southern seaport of Russia, where Shura was born, he practised as a dentist. During the Revolution the boy had learned what it was to go hungry. “There are nine bullets in the wall of the house where we lived,” said Shura, “and several people died there of disease. No,” he said, “we will not go back to Russia.” Five years ago his family went to Baltimore, and it was there he published his first piano composition, the “Prelude Pathetique.” Later he played with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, at the same time working away steadily under Hoffman. Asked to what he attributed his son’s early success, the elder Cherkassky stated that Shura’s mother was a very fine pianist, having graduated at the Petrograd Conservatorium, and she took upon herself his early musical training. Shura’s answer was typical of the boy’s natural simplicity. ‘‘l just played, and was successful,” he added. Apart from music, he said he was very fond of travelling and liked reading the lives of musicians. He could speak both Russian and English, and was at present studying French, which he could speak slightly. Next year he was going on an educational tour of Europe, and he hoped then to polish up that language. America is the place for musicians, he said. Just before he left he heard Friedman, who he considered a great virtuoso, and a very fine Chopin player. “I liked his playing very much” he said. CHOPIN HIS FAVOURITE Questioned regarding his favourite composers he said it was very difficult to express a decided preference to any because they were all so different. However he confessed to a strong regard for Chopin; more so than for Liszt and some of the others. “I think Chopin was a greater poet” he said. For his forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand which opens at Sydney at the end of the present month he stated he had prepared nine programmes including two concertos. “I am looking forward with great interest to the tour” he said. “I think my English has a slight American accent and I want to correct it.” “You are very kind,” he said in reply to the interviewer’s wishes for a successful tour. “I will try and make it very successful.”