EMINENT VIOLINIST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1930, Page 13

EMINENT VIOLINIST.

VISITOR TO AUCKLAND.

MR. JOHN DUNN,

HAS A £3000 "STRAD."

It will come somewhat as a surprise to the musical circles of Auckland to know that a noted English violinist, Mr. John Dunn, has been in this city a fortnight without his presence being generally, known. He was so delighted with the cinema scenic pictures of New Zealand screened on the Vancouver liner when he was en route to open a concert tour in Australia that he decided to land here and see a bit of the country and its people. With the becoming humility of an Englishman, and ah artist to his finger-tips, Mr. Dunn expresses the opinion that the modern violinist does not measure up to the players of the old generation. "Where the modern players lack," he added, "is in breadth of tone production."

Born at Hull, John Dunn was a violin prodigy at a very early age, and he commenced to become more intimate with the virtues of the instrument at eight years of age when his brotliei, a piofessional player and leader of the Hull Theatre orchestra, took him in hand with the object eventually of exploiting the many signs of youthful ability and artistry. Unfortunately, the tutor died, but the pupil lived on for his beloved music. Within a few years John Dunn was called to appear with the Philharmonic Society, and he was at once acclaimed by critics and public as Britain's leading violinists. Since then overseas newspapers have been enthusiastic about this master exponent. _ Returning home from triumphs m Africa, Mr: Dunn went across to America to arrange for an extensive concert tour in the States and Canada next year. Meantime, his next tour is in Australia. His treasured Stradivarius is valued at '£3000.