JULIUS KATCHEN

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27669, 27 May 1955, Page 7

JULIUS KATCHEN

AMERICAN PIANIST’S CAREER

VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH NEXT MONTH

Described by the London “Daily Telegraph” as “unquestionably one of the best pianists of his generation,” and praised highly by many British and Continental critics, the 28-year-old American pianist, Julius Katchen, will give a concert in the Majestic Theatre, Christchurch, on June 2. Although he is comparatively little known in his own country, he has, in the last eight years in Europe, been acclaimed as one of the greatest living pianists. Born at Long Branch, New Jersey, in 1926, Julius Katchen comes of a musical family. His mother was a concert pianist, and his father an accomplished violinist. His father has recently become a national figure as a result of notable victories over Senator Joseph McCarthy as defence coun*sei in the Fort Monmouth prosecutions.

Julius Katchen made his debut at the age of 11 under Eugene Ormandv with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1937, and was immediately asked to play with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir John Barbirolli. He played with the best United States Orchestras in solo recitals until he was 14, when he was taken from the concert stage temporarily by his parents for a general education. Outstanding scholastic achievement at Haverford College gained Julius Katchen one of the, five fellowships awarded to United States graduates by the French Government in 1946. Using his fellowstip to study music, he made his home in Baris. He played seven times in 11 days with the orchestra of the Conservatoire and'the Orchestre Nationale ouring the first International UNESCO Festival in November, 1946, and became one of the most talked-about musicians of tjie season. Since then, Julius Katchen has estab* lished himself througout Europe as one of the public’s great favourites. He has visited every country in Western Europe, the Middle East, and South America, and has .given from 100 to 140 concerts each season. He first played in London in 1948 with the Royal-Philharmonic Orchestra. Newspapers, commenting on Julius Katchen’s playing over the last few years, have called him “one of the greatest living performers of late Beethoven,” ‘.‘a young artist with an amazing agility and a combination of power arfd delicacy,” an<f “one of the most outstanding among the really great rising young pianists of our time.” Julius Katchen is visiting New Zealand during a tour which also embraces South Africa, Japan, India, and Australia.