PERSONALITIES of the week

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 23, 14 December 1934, Page 8

PERSONALITIES

of the week

PIANIST-COMPOSER ABRAM CHASINS is the first young American composer to be honoured by. Toscanini with representation ona New York Philharmonic Orchestral programme. Born in New York in 1908, of Russian parentase, he showed unusual ~ musical gifts in early childhood, ‘Whien seveu rears old he came under the syuipathetic guidance of Bertha I. Tapper, who supervised bis musical development until her death, four years later. Shortly after this he.won valuable scholar ships; then followed study with Ernest IJutcheson and. Rubin Goldmark. In 1926 he enjoyed the rare opportunity of travel and study with Josef Hofmann, who later appointed him to the faculty o£ the Curtis Institute of Music iv Philadelphia. Wis strikingly modern novel, imaginative and whimsically humorous piano pieces have brought him world fame. LIVE AND LET LIVE ANY artists, each famous in his own sphere, who might otherwise never meet at all, meet occasionally in the gramophone recording studio. Sir Edward Elgar.. with the aid of a large orchestra, had been completing the records of his tone poem "Falstaff" in one studio, while in another studio Gracie Fields was recording some of her famous comedy songs for the Christmas season. Sir Edward. describing the comedienne "as a very great artiste," hinted at the possibility of. going and looking through a crack in the door to see her at work. He added: "I have heard some of her rzcords, but have never actually seen her, but, of course, she wouldn’t like it if I did." On being reassured that Gracie would mot in the least mind the presence of such a distinguished visitor, but would regard it as a great compliment, Sir Edward’s natural diffidence was finally overcome, and he followed his guide. Running upstairs to. the other studio like a young man (although he was wearing his

famous heavy: fur coat), he tistened with the greatest interest to Gracie inaking her- characteristic records. Then, when. these two famous figures were introduced, le woul! not hear a word . about .himnsel!, but showered compliments upon ber} as well as on the band and Ray Noble, who had orchestrated the songs. He left the studio and its occupants with a never-to-be-forgotten memory of a very nrodest and great-hearted Englishman, Another contrast in artists and a further example. of artistic broadmindedness was Schnabel’s intense interest in a Jack’ Hulbert recording sesSion following his work on Beethoveu sonatas. PERFECT: MELISANDE T the age of 19, after only four years with Jean de Reszke, the famous French singer and Parisian teacher, Maggie Teyte was called upon at short notice to play the part of ' Melisande in Debussy’s "Pellas and Melisande," at first much to the con- . sternation of the composer himself! After hearing only a few bars, how"ever, Debussy realised that here was the perfect Melisande, the Melisande around whose. frail and unhappy figure he has written his mysteriously lovely music. Maggie Teyte, by the captivating simplicity of her interpretations, re-created Melisande into an infinitely more appealing, more fundamentally innocent personality. THOSE "GANGSTERS" FRANK LEE, of the "Gangster" firm of Haver and Lee, was, before his how gsucceessful partnership began, a member of the famous "Boisset Troupe of Acrobats." With this troupe once at Rickard’s Opera House in Melbourne, a nart of Lee’s act was to be seized by the seat of his trousers by a bulldog trained for the purpose. On arrival, in Melbourne his bulldog was missing, and it was urgently necesSary ;to find another dog which would know the wrong end of Lee. An adver- > tisement brought scores of owners and their dogs to the stage door. The most likely-looking animal was eventually bought from a shady-looking individual for a fiver. The first evening the dog gave such a perfect performance that Lee’s suspicions were aroused. Yes, itwas their own dog, stolen, and sold back to them. . HARRIET COHEN’S FRIENDS. FFROM the memorable occasion when . Harriet Cohen as a child of six en‘joyed the distinction of — sitting on Paderewski’s knee in the artist’s room at Queen’s: Hall, she has not only developed an amazing genius for piano playing, but one for friendship also. During a visit to Berlin she met WinStein, the eminent scientist, found him

to be a great Bach enthusiast like herself, and with him piayed Bach and Mozart violin and piano sonatas. On another occasion she enjoyed a very energetic bout with four-hunded = arrangements of Beethoven, and other symphonies, with Bernard Shaw, she declares, is a very capable pianist. At their first meeting Mr. Shaw gave her a long lecture vu Mozart and Wagner. Other intimate friends were Arnold Bennett and Delius. CUNNINGHAM’S MEMORY G D,." CUNNINGHAM, organist to * the city of Birmingham and its university, is among the few famous organists who give their recitals from memory. In the way.of composers he has few preferences, but he puts Bach first, and declares that, as the years go on, he loves the work of that mau more and more. His repertoire consists of something like a thousand. Works, including the Bach and Meng delssohn. organ music.