MISCHA ELMAN

Evening Star, Issue 15538, 7 July 1914, Page 3

MISCHA ELMAN

WORLD’S GREATEST VIOLINIST. In His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday and Tuesday next, July 13 and 14, Mischa Elman, the world’s universally acknowledged greatest violinist, will make his two ana only appearances, and if the critic of the Melbourne ’ Herald ’ may be quoted it should prove " an historic occasion and advance Australasia's participation in the art life of Europe another step.” Mischa Elman, now only 23 years of age, has been before the English, Continental, and American public for the past 10 years, consequently he is the full development, of the wonderful boy prodigy, as he was called when he first took St. Petersburg and Loudon by storm. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that Elman is regarded as the “ world's greatest violin virtuoso,” while some of the London and New York critics have gone so far as to say that he has left all other violinists far behind, and established a standard in violin playing that to all appearances will stand for many years to come unless Elman’s own further development —if this is poslble—even overshadows what ho has already done. Mischa Elman is in the zenith of his career, consequently New Zealanders are going to hear an artist who, by his superb playing, enthralls audiences in the Old World—audiences, too, which almost weekly hear the world's greatest artists in their own particular line, and are fully capable of judging Elman with his predecessors of tho violin in years gone by. Elman, it is interesting to recall, was a favorite of the late King Edward, and is still a welcome visitor to the Queen Mother Alexandra and the King and Queen. Elman naturally values this friendship so highly that he constantly wears the diamond pin which the present King handed him before he (Elman) went to America on the tour just completed, because of His Majesty knowing of Elman’s Australian visit. The pin embodies the three Prince of Wales feathers. Elman’s visit to this City should stand out as a red-letter day in musical annals, for in this artist the world has the pinnacle of the virtuoso greatness. Again, apart from the artistic worth of the performance, there will also be an element of rare educational value. Associated with Mischa Elman iu his concerts here will I© Mile Eva Gauthier, the brilliant FrenchCanadian mezzo-soprano, who has appeared at Covent Garden, (London, and the .Metropolitan Opera-house in Now York. The pianist will be Mr Percy Kahn, who has now been associated with Elman for the past five years. Mr George Musgrove, whose name has been associated with some of the greatest artistic visits to this country, is directing the tour. Written applications in advance for the 10s fid seats are now being received by the Dresden Piano Company.