HENRI KETTEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3949, 14 December 1880, Page 3

HENRI KETTEN.

The Sydney Mail publishes the following biography of the eminent pianist who isabout to give us specimens of his skill in Christchurch : —

a:uu distinguished artist was bore in Hungary, March 25, ids. Hib parentß remove* when their son waß six months old ; a few years were passed in Posen, thence the familj went to Paris, and by edueui ion and adoption Henri Ketten is French, though his music cannot be called that of tl;e French school. From his infancy young Ketten exhibited remarkable musical abilities, and was described as a " child of inspiration." In his sixth year 1.0 played Beethoven's trio in E Flat ; and at. tho age of bis and a half years gavo his fir»t concert with orchestra, and played Hummel's concertino in G. Dr Hans Von Biilow, passing through Posen, urged Ketten's father to take the boy to Liszt, and at once wrote a letter of introduction for him. Liszt, unable to accept tho charge of bo young a child, Bucceeded in entrusting him to Dr Von Biilow, with whom he remained ton months. In his eighth year Henri Ketten woe admitted to the Paris Conservatoire, the judges unanimously agreeing to lay aside the ruio setting forth that no pupil under the age of 10 can eater the higher classes. He Bludied piano with Marmontel, and composition with Halvey. At 10 years of age Henry Ketten, in the Salle Herz, executed Beethoven's fifth concerto. Ho had now mastered the course of study prescribed at the Oocservatoire in the science of counterpoint, and was already a composer. In his eleventh year he conducted hia own sacred cantata, " Jephthah ;" and since ho was 12 this young musician haß been his own teacher, patiently working to a thorough understanding of the great masters, becoming familiar with all their styles, and striving with unswerving diligence and enthusiasm not only to give to their productions the highest interpretation which tradition associates with them, but do* voting his genius and perseverance to compositions by which his own name will live, and the fame and distinctness of the Ketten school be as surely spread and recognised as tho works and teachings of those who have preceded and are contemporary with him. He made successful concert tours in Holland in 1862 and 1865, and gave u, scries of performances at the Exposition Universelle in 1867. He visited Germany, Austria, RuEsia, Switzerland, and made a three years' Bojourn in Constantinople ae conductor of the Italian opera there. In 1870 he went, by the advice oil hie physicians, to Italy, and having by rest recruited his health, he made a professional tour from Milan through tho principal cities of thiifc peainaula of mueic and beauty. After a sojourn in Paris, Austria, Hungary, and tho Eest were visited, then Italy again, and in 1875 he was once more at Jfariß. In 1876 ai.u 1877 he was in London, whore for six consecutive weeks ho played nightly, and evoked the inool genuino enthusiasm. Ho huii played before her Mujeßty at Osborne before ho vsm in his teens, and in 1879 ho wfiit to /lii.nii'u, Air Kelten rcmainca lor two mwii'.hs in San Francisco, whenco Liio most Hutu-ring testimonies of hiß prodigious technical ekill, his power of intorpretiiig tho works of masters of all schools, his gut of improvising, of his marvellous memory, uml of his vivid imagination, have but coniiiti.cd the evidences furnished by critics in ihu great musical centres of Europe. Whenever he is to bo heard wo can Bafely predict for our renders a greater treat than has yet been oifercci them in tho scienco and urt oi" piuno-playii ;:. Mr Kctton is not only a pianist, he is uuku famed as a musician and a compoeer of the highest order, and wo gladly welcome his vieit to Australia. His published works already number 100. They include "Poems Symphonies," "Pays Loiutaine," and " L'Aurore," a lyric eceno ; " Marinarescu," produced in tho Carlo Folico Theatre in Genoa, 1672 ; u quinlotto overture, nnd t cveral orchestral works ; and ho is now engaged in writing an opora, " Lob Apsaraß," an Jndian legend, tho libretto by A. de Lauzicres, which will be produced at tho Pans Grand Opera.