JEAN GERARDY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12569, 2 August 1901, Page 6

JEAN GERARDY.

A NOTABLE MUSICIAN. THE WORLD'S CHAMPION 'CELLIST. The experience of New Zealand in tba matter ot musical-stars has, speaking on. broad lines, been one of " speeding the parting guest," rather than welcoming in the hey-day of youth and fame these wnorn. "God has Whispered in the ear—'tis we musicians who know." It is nob strange that our experience should have been confined to those who had, musically speaking, reached the sere and yellow leaf, ior NewZealand naturally offers but few opportunities to these who can command a wider field of operation than the little island colony. That. Jean Gerardy, who is probably the master 'cellist of the world, should visit us at the very height of his fame is an accident of circumstance which can only be regarded as fortuitous. M. Gerardv arrived in Christchurch by-tha express irom the south last night, and as "Lyttelton Times" representative had a brief interview with him shortly after his arrival. Jean Gerardy is a'Belgian, having been born in Liege, on Dec. ?, 1877. He was fortunate, even, in his birthplace, Liege chiming, among ■ether honours, the nativity of Leonardo Vieuxtemps, the Bervais (father and son), Ysage, Thomson and Marscik. Indeed, it is said that it has cradled the genius of such a long line of brilliant artists that the miners in the vicinity can repeat their names ' glibly enough, though they cannot give the name of their king. Gerardy's father, a celebrated pianist, was Master of the Conservatorium of Liege. ■He had no wish that his son should become j a professional musician, but so keen was the boy's love for melody and so manifest j were his talents that an old friend of the j family insisted that young Jean should be educated in music for Ms own gratification. It was decided that he should learn the ■.. violoncello, since there were so (few musicians -who had won distinction with that instrument. At the age of seven he entered the Conservatorium, and six months later captured the second prize, in competition with young men of twenty years and more. It was an unheard of achievement, and it brought for him the tutelage of such men as Bellman, the great violoncellist of the. Herckmann Quartette, who had never previously taken a pupil, and Massauj Master of the Conservatorium afc Verviers. He made his first public appearance at the age of nine, at Liege, though his graduation did not occur until he reached the age of eleven, when he went forth the youngest graduate the Conservatorium had ever made. One of his most important concert engagements then was in conjunction with Paderewski and Ysaye, with whom he performed the trio, of lvubenstein. The very fact that a boy of only eleven years was considered by these'great artists worthy to be heard in trios with them was in itself a compliment extraordinary, and undoubted homage to genuine worth. The same year he made a tour of England with them, and at the Crystal Palace, upon his first appearance in London, Paderewski, desiring to show his high appreciation of Gerardy's genius, played the piano accompaniment for him, a rare-tribute from one great artist to another. He then went to'Germany, appearing first with Hang von : Billow, and in the leading cities with • the phiiairmonic societies. ,As the first-prodigy who ever performed on the 'cello, his success was sensational-. In Vienna, he appeared with Hans Richter and. his famous Philharmonic Orchestra, from whom he received a diploma. He was there called "the- Saras-ate of the 'cello.* Afterwards, during his European engagements, he made tours with Adelina Patti and Melba,; and when in England he was frequently .summoned to Windsor to play to the late Queen Victoria,' with- whom/ he became-a great favourite, and' Gerardy" treasures mainy costly gifts bestowed upon him by her Majesty. -At-sixteen he was engaged for a series of,fifty concerts in America., in company with Stave-nhagen, the pianist. In the United States and Canada, his success was equally; as great as'it was , in Europe. Three times he lias visited Russia, and won the highest'•honours'. In 'Spain he was booked- for" three concerts with the Philharmonic Society at Madrid. The Queen was present, at. the opening recital, and a 1 few days later, she summoned him to the Palace, whither she had especially gathered.her court,-, and- with her own hands she attached to the young 'cellist the badge of the Order of Knight of Isabella la decoration never bestowed ■ before on. one of his age. In Paris his ability met with such immediate recognition that he was again decorated, this time with the Order cf a.n Officer of Public Instruction, just one grade removed from that of the Legion of Honour, which title was denied him only by reason of his vearsi He was the' first 'cellist ever so honoured in Prance. At the age of twenty he returned to America, and visited the leaoing cities, appearing with such famous organisations as the New York Philharmonic Sockty,' the Seidl Orchestra and the Boston Svrnphonv Orchestra, and accompanied by Ysave"he made a visit to thePacific Coaf.b for a series of sixty recitals. In the past winter he visited America for the third - time-, and found his audiences more enthusiastic in his favour than ever. He had twice been in negotiation with Australian managers, but each time he vras forced to relinquish his plans because- of other engagements contracted for far in advance This year he determined to seek this new field and win its approval, if possible, as the crowning stamp of success achieved in -every great musical centre of the world. Gerardy's Australian tour has been as big a success as any of those preceding it, whilst his experience in New Zealand so far has been encouraging in the highest degree. At Wellington his audience rose en masse at the conclusion of his farewell recital and cheered him to the echo. In Dunedin his experience was similar. ( Indeed, the southern city seems to have gone a.most hysterical over his performances. He had quite a Paderewski experience on, Wednesday" night, when, after moving :; ence. to tears with his playing of ''Ave Maria,".he found fully fifty young ladies assembled at his hotel after the performance in search of autographs and handshakes. Fully that number assembled also, on a similar quest, at the express train yesterday, and the bashful 'cellist escaped from the ""descent of woman" only on the departure of the train. , M. Gerardy expresses the utmost appreciation . of his audiences in Australia and also in New Zealand, more particulany the latter. He has found them attentive, critical and withal enthusiastic. One thing in particular which ho' .has noticed,and which argues, he thinks, a widespread musical taste, has been that the cheaper seats .at his recitals have been filled night after night by an enthusiastic crowd, whose return could have been prompted only by a love for music, and nob by. simple curiosity. Another matter upon which- he prides himself is. that he should have been practically the first musician to show to the colonies the virtues of the 'cello'as a solo instrument. Apart from, his own musical triumph, he regards the triumph of his instrument, as the greatest pleasure of a phemv menally successful tour. . After leaving Christchurch, M. Gerardy will give recitals in Waiiganui, Nnw Plymouth and Auckland, and will then'' leave ' for America, where he lias contracted to give aseries of one hundred concerts. Thereafter he contemplates making a pleasure trip of Japan and China before returning to his home. . • '■:_' • ■ ■ Gerardy's career is considered'the midst remark;;bl 9 one'ever experienced by' a. musical artist'of fliis vears. At the age _ of tw-cir.ity-th.ree. he is .recognised-as the roreinast violoncellist in the world, and he mis played engagements with only the greatest musical societies and orchestras m tne countries he has visited, an dionour never yob extended to one of his ycuth. He pla> s one of the best known instruments made by Stradavarius, purchased at a from George Hart, the celebrated London

dealer. This is the first Stradivarius 'cello ever brought to the colonies, arid, as a matter of fact, only some twenty instruments of the class are in existence in the world. After his recital this evening, M. Gerardy will be entertained by tho Liedertafel.