MISCHA ELMAN.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15018, 13 July 1914, Page 2

MISCHA ELMAN.

AN INTERVIEW.

j (Br Stbad.) Passing throngh Christchurch on his way to the South, the renowned violinist, Mr Mischa (pronounced Misha) Elman, who will make his debut at the Theatre Royal on Saturda* next, underwent cheerily the usual unavoidable ordeal. A mere youth of 22, he has now rushed for years from triumph to triumph on threo continents. In appearanco he is short of stature, but sturdy, big-oyed. with a distinctive Eastern cast of features; a littlo blase looking when you first 6ee him, and rather pale, as if a too generous diet of superlatives had disagreed with his digestion. Besides, your violinist is no more than a torso without his fiddle in close and fond embrace. It is, in .eality, one of his limbs. And to gaze upon tho charms ot its form and complexion means to him earthly bliss and the -sound of its voice opens the gates of heaven. As we plunged readily into musical matters, hi-s face urew alert aud jxpressive, the words came in eager, impetuous gusts, like driven by an invisible dynamo. "Yes," he said, "as prodigies »b nowadays, I am not in the running at all. for I had reached my twelfth year before I made my fin>i umorgetuioie public appearance in a concert at Berlin, and ever since I have moved on like the wandering Jew, always 'on the road,' for ten years. A Russian by birth, I owe my complete musical education to the Conservatorium of Music in St. Petersburg, an institution unique as regards its staff of great masters and its output of great pupils. There the poor of conspicuous talent gain admittance on the strength of patronage or what you call scholarships; for the rich the doors are always oi>en. talent or no. Of course I had played the fiddle almost from babyhood. But I have had no time, and, perhaps us may bo presently for you to judire, no need for further study siuco I left die Coiiservatoriuui. Thanks to improved methods :iu handling the stubborn instrument, the technique of the violin has made so great strides in our time that mere children overcome now with comparative ease diiuculties that seemed almost insurmountable to mature artists before. There is a tendency to revive again the style of Paganini: at least what it is surmised to have been in the absence of phonographoic evi•dence. Among the chosen few of the first rank, ever and always of limited numbers. I should doubtless place such men as Kroissler, Ysaye, and a yet little known artist. Enesko by name. "Comparinrr thc audiences of Europe and America. I award unhesitatingly thc palm to thc latter great country. Lhere tremendous enthusiasm and earnest appreciation of what is good and great in the realm of music surpasses really the receptiveness of tho Old World, and, as yon know, fortunes are lavishly showered upon the lucky artists who approach nearest • their own ideal. Music means much to them. I'es, there exists a strong feeling in favour of emancipation from the foreign cjnn-l". not unreasonably by any means, but in the. matter of nationl creative acuity they have evolved as yet few notable exponents, and must needs h content iri the main to rely for the present upon the musical products of older lations. Among their own prominent musicians, names of cosmopolitan origin predominate largely. Russia, to be.sure, has in a marvellous way forced its wav to the front by the power arid originality'of its modern compositions. But it is France that has victoriously initiated in our age the finest development of the musical idea, as associated with tho names of Debussy, Charpentier, and their, followers, and •*'rench music it is that holds •ne a willing, ' admiring captive, {'he inherent idealism, the poetry, ;eauty, and elegance distinguishing their music* from all others, ( enhralls mc and proves a source of constant delight; Perhaps their art beautiful as it is, may not strike very deeply or lastingly. Therefore, I can but acknowledge, that, intellectually, the German Richard Strauss amaze** one and towers no dcubt above all compeers v- +i-.<j impress of his gigantic work, and fancies, and his extraordinary tech meal command. There is also the latest wonder, the boy Erich Konrnold. a mere baby in years, yet a genius hardly needing the moulding almost ready made as he is, sprung, as it were, from the '•iouds. tet, somewhat shamefacedly—"l also compose, but not yet in the eye and glare of the world." All* Elman feels much elated at the brilliant, success of his tour through Australia and New Zealand, and is convinced that the people of these countries love music and generously and wisely-appreciate it. I would have liked to ask many more questions about his programmes, his fiddle, and the new til" ar Concerto, but the express, awaits not the pleasure of even the man of "The Press."