THE WORLD'S GREATEST 'CELLIST

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 17 July 1923, Page 8

THE WORLD'S GREATEST 'CELLIST

JEAN GERARDY TO-NIGHT,

To-night at 8 M. Jean Gerardy, the world-famous Belgian violoncellist, will snake liis eagerly-a-waited re-appearance liere in the Opera House. Music-lovers will.not be slow .to take advantage of this unique opportunity of hearing the yioloucelia, perhapa the noblest of all instruments, played by the man who more than all others has made it a solo instrument beloved of concert-goers the world over. In the interval of 22 years since the great Beleg'fcm last visited these shores no 'cellist of the first rank has played for us, and most of those who will hear Gerardy to-night will have no comparisons to'make except with the Gerardy of nearly a quarter of a'century ago. We are assured from American and Australfan sources that the 'cellist is a greater artist now than he has ever been His art is said to be matured and mellow, and while he has lost nothing of his astounding j virtuosity, his interpretive powers have ripened, and broadened. The Gerardy of to-day is a musician to be ranked only with a* few of the greatest interpreters of tliis generation. Supporting the famous 'cellist will be Miss Essie Ackland, a young Australian contralto, avlio is hailed as the j successor to Ada Crossley. Her voice : is rich and colourful from the highest I note to the lowest, and in some of her ! 'numbers to be presented at ; to-n:ght's concert she has, won much critical 2>raise for her- dramatic expressiveness. The pianist of the party is Mr George Stewart McManus, who comes with a big American reputation, both as solo pianist and accompanist. At to-night's concert M. Gerard will play the '"Variations Symplioniques" of the Alsatian composer, Leon Boellmann, a work of great beauty and variety, which the 'cellist has rendered world famous. Lesser numbers will include the Boccherini Sonata No. 6, the celebrated Bach Aria, generally played by violinists on the G string. Schuitia'nirs. "Abei?dlisd,'> Popper's "Papillon," and "Chanson Viliageoise," and two works by Cnmille Saiht-Saens— "Romance," and the favourite "1.9 Cygiie."Miss Aekland's songs will include Giordani's "Giro Mio Ben," Wallace's "Sweet and Low." Schumann's "In the Garden," Tachaikowsky's "None But the Lonely Heart,'' and* in lighter vein "Five Little Pickaninnies.' .Mr McManus will play >a Chopin Polonaise in A major, Greig's "JDanse Caprice," and the* ever-popular "Prelude in C sham minor of Sergei Rachxnaiiinov. The ■ bflsvwalans are filling vapidly at Mrs ■■<-C&dliH? confectionery, and 'day sale 5s tickets are obtainable at Mrs Cook's and the Bristol Piano Company.