A "COMING" VIOLONCELLIST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13631, 28 June 1906, Page 2

A "COMING" VIOLONCELLIST.

ARRIVAL IN LONDON 1 OF MR ARNOLD TROWEL!,.

(Fbou Oue Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, J fay 11.

Some three years havo elapsed einoe Mr Arnold Trowell, who is a-.native of Wellington, left, his colony to eontiuuo in Europe his musical studies, his speoial instrument. being the violoncello. It will be remembered that, his father was an able violinist and conductor.

At the termination of Lis studios on (ho Continent, where he has been brilliantly successful, Mr Arnold Trowoll has conic to London; lie arrived here this week from Brussels, and arrangements are now being made for his introduction to the musical world on this side of the Channel.

lie first; want to Frankfort-on-Main, where he studied under Hugo Ecelter; then h'! went on to Brussels, and after having been at the Brussels Conservatoire for only the short period of six months, ho was admitted ; nlo the public concours, with the result i-hat he outstripped all his fellow competitors, who were all his senior in years—Mr Trowell now is only 18 years of age. by the way, having boon born in June, 1888,—and carried off the. first prize. This was in June, 1905. The Concours is one of the highest examinations held in connection with the Brussels Conservatoriuni, and in former years had boon won by sudi renowned players as Gerardy, Prince. Carnavon, and Chevalier Ernst do Munck. A very interesting feature in connection with the award of this high honour to tho 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 600 students of the Conservatoire, only five were selected to compete, and of that number Mr Trowell was the one to whom tho coveted distinction was awarded. When I mention that the jury on the occasion of its award to the young Now Zealander consisted of Franoois Geraert, Ernst do Munck, jUr.fisau (Gerardy's teacher), Prince Clarnavon. and' Leendcrs, it will bo recognised that tlicss eminent gentlemen constituted a body of critics of no mean order. His special master during bis course at tho Brussels Conservatoire was Jacob;.

During the last few months I understand that Mr Arnold Trowell lias been continuing his studies abroad by himself, and it is remarked by one authority that ho lias " developed the style by which his playing is distinguished from all other violoncellists—namely, in furtherance of the technical side of the art of violoncello playing. His fine technique is greatly due to Hie vast exertion in his early youth, when ho practised from eiqrlit to ten hours daily for years. Possessing phenomenal technical power, he excels in all works of tho virtuoso. Nevertheless, he also possesses, as one Brussels critic remarks, 'tho more serious qualities of tono and interpretation, as shown in his rendering of the Concerto in D of Iladyn and tho Suite of Bach.'"

A few weeks ago Mr Arnold Trowell gave a highly sitccossfu! 'collo rccital in Brussels. It.' was attended by an overflowing audience. many of those present being obliged to stand throughout tho evening. Tho result of tho recital was that Mr Trowell was tho recipient of a large number of very complimentary notices in tho Belgian press. One of these journals remarked: "Tho oftorts of the artist wore rewarded with immense applause. The best ctt'ects were heard in Popper's Concerto in E Minor. Op. 24, and Papillon, as music by this violon-cellist-composer shows off to the greatest advantage tho effects to be obtained from the violoncello, and the skill of the artist in rapid execution., 11. Trowell displayed croat sentiment and delicacy in his delivery of Schumann's 'Abendlied' and Bach's 'Aria in D.'" I feel suro that his friends in the colony will learn with much interest of tho highly satisfactory progress mado by the young colonist so far, and I hopfc to have the pleasure at an early date of hearing him perform in London.