FAMOUS MENTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 170, 20 July 1936, Page 9

FAMOUS MENTOR.

MUSIC AND DANCING.

GUIDO CARRERAS HERE.

MARRIED HIS " DISCOVERY."

Mentor of such world-famed artists as the one and only Anna Pavlova and. those geniuses of the violin, Fritz Ivreisler and Jasclia Heifetz, Sir. Guido Carreras, who has been a leading figure in the world of dancing and music for nearly 40 years, arrived at Auckland by the Niagara from Sydney this morning. Ten years ago he "discovered" La Meri, a dancer who lias danced her way across the globe in sensational fashion. Sho is now his wife and arrived with him to-day. Great were the stories told by Guido Carreras of the stars of the dancing and musical world. It was in 1904° that Carreras—an Italian by birth who speaks nine languages—took Anna Pavlova from St. Petersburg to Berlin. The great dancer was then in the Imperial ballet of the Czar. "That was one of the first steps in my career," said Carreras. "At that time I was interested almost exclusively in classical music." With a wry smile, Carreras recalled Fritz Ivreisler'e first public concert in Berlin. He had been a great success in his home town. Artistically, Kreisler was a great success in Berlin with his first concert, but financially the recital was disastrous. About 20 marks, in those days the equivalent of £1 10/, was taken. But Carreras carefully explained that no matter wliat the capacity of the artist, his first concert was never a financial success. Jasclia Heifetz, too, was launched by Carreras. He was a great revelation at 10 years of age. Never was there such an assembly of great violinists as that which attended Heifetz's first private concert. In the middle of the concert Ivreisler rose to his feet and said, "I accompany this man." The "man" was Heifetz, the boy with golden curls. After the concert, Leopold Schmidt, the most severe musical critic in the world, wrote, "Such a revelation like this youngster happens only once a century." Then Carreras told how he "discovered" the Spanish-American, La Meri. He was asked to organise a concert in Texas, and when the local talent was produced he made La Meri the central figure of the performance. He realise! at once her possibilities and quickly recognised her genius. In less than Iwo years he had made the name La Meri world famous.