A "COMING" VIOLONCELLIST.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 148, 23 June 1906, Page 5

A "COMING" VIOLONCELLIST.

DISTINCTIONS FOR THE YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER. ARRIVAL IN LONDON OF MR. ARNOLD TROWELL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 11th May. Some three years have elapsed since Mr. Arnold Trowell, who is a native of Wellington, left Ms colony to continue in Europe his musical studies, his special instrument being the violoncello. It will be remembered that his, father was an able violinist and conductor. At the termination of his studies on the Continent, where he has been brilliantly successful, Mr. Arnold Trowell has come to London ; he arrived here this week from Brussels, and arrangements are now being made for his introduction to the musical world on this Bide of the Channel. He first went to Frankiort-on-Main, where he studied under Hugo Becker; then he went on to Brussels, and after having been at the Brussels Conservatoire for only the short period of sir months he was admitted into the public Concours with the result that he outstripped all his fellow competitors, who were all his senior in years— Mr. Trowell now is only eighteen years of age,, by the -way, having been born in June, 188&— and carried off the first prize. This was in June, 1905. The ConcouTß is one of the highest examinations held in connection with the Brussels Conservatorium, and in former years .had been won by such renowned players a* Gerardy, Prince Carnavon, and Chevalier Ernst de Munck. A very interesting" feature id connection with the award of this high honour to the young New Zealand player consists in the fact that for three years prior to his attainment of the first prize no award had been made, as none of the candidates who presented themselves at the examination •were considered of sufficiently high merit to receive it. 'Moreover, out of six hundred students of the Conservatoire, only five were selected to compete, and of that number Mr. Trowell was the one to whom the coveted distinction was awarded. During the last few months I understand that Mr. Arnold Trowell has been continuing his .iudies abroad by himself, and it is remarked by one authority that be has "developed the style by which hifl playing is distinguished from that' of other violoncellists — namely, in furtherance of the technical side of the art of violoncello playing. His fine technique is greatly due to the vast exertion in his early youth, when he practised from eight to ten hours daily for year 3. Posseioing phenomenal technical power, he excels m all works of the virtuoso. Nevertheless be also possesses, as one Brussels critic remarks, ' the more serious qualities of tone and interpretation, as shown in his rendering of the Concerto in D of Haydn, and the Suite of Bach.' " A few weeks ago Mr. Arnold Trowell gave a highly successful 'cello recital in 'Brussels. It was attended by an overflowing audience, -many of those present being obliged to stand throughout the evening. The result was that Mr. Tro•well was the recipient of a large number of very complimentary notices in the Belgian press. ©no of these journals remarked : " The efforts of the artist were rewarded with immense applause. Thebest effects were heard in Popper's Concerto in E-minor, op. 24, and Papillon, as music by this violoncellist-composer show off to the greatest advantage the effects to be obtained from the violoncello, and the skill of the artist in rapid execution. Mr. Trowell displayed great sentiment and delicacy in his delivery of SchumannVs ' Abendlied ' and Bach s 'Aria in D.' " I feel sure that his friends in the colouv will learn with much interest of the highly satisfactory progress made by the young colonist so far, and I hope to have the pleasure at an early date of hearing him perfoOn in London.

The adjourned meeting of ratepayers of the city will bo held on Wednesday evening to consider the proposals of the council to borrow £279,000 for certain public works.