HEIFETZ PLAYS ON HOLY GROUND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 12 June 1929, Page 3

HEIFETZ PLAYS ON HOLY GROUND

Jasclia Heifetz, the violinist, who has travelled all over the world and is quite at home in all five parts of the globe, had an interesting experience in Japan. h\ the big towns he played in the ordinary theatres or concert halls, but in Hakata, which is one of the smaller towns, he .had to play in the only decent then I re, which belongs to a company of Japanese actors, who" regard the ground as sacred. It is the custom before entering this theatre to take off one's shoes, the natives wearing a kind of under shoe which prevents them going bare-footed. "When my accompanist and I were entering the' theatre," Mr Heifetz said, "we were invited to take off our shoes. I should not have minded this at all only I was afraid I should not be able to play. After a long discussion we were offered a pair of under shoes but it was impossible for me to. play, as I was used to playing with my shoes on. New arrangements were therefore necessary and the conclusion was that we were allowed to keep our 1 boots on, but we must promise to remain standing on a piece of carpet which was specially put, down for us."