CELLIST ABROAD.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19545, 6 April 1935, Page 14 (Supplement)

CELLIST ABROAD.

IMPRESSIONS OF MUSICIANS. Speaking of ’cellists he heard abroad on a recent tour, George Elhvood, the Wellington ’cellist, said that the 'finest player .he heard was Piattigorski, a most sensitive and subtle player, with an appealing tone, and a background of the rarest intellectuality. Other good players of outstanding note were Gassado (Spanish), Eisehberg (German), and Gabousova (Russia). Pablo Casals he did not hear. Mr and .Mrs Elhvood visited Spa, where they stayed with Madame Jean Gerardy, widow of the famous ’cellist, formerly a Miss McQuade, of Sydney. : Madame still has her husband’s famous ’'Cello, said at one time to be Worth ! £IO,OOO. She iias no lintention of parting with it—it is part of her cherished i memories. | As to individual performances heard, l Mr Ellwood thinks that Jascha Heifetz’s playing of the Brahms Concerto under Sir Thomas Beecham at the Queen’s Hall, London, was outstanding. He also speaks enthusiastically of the magic of Yehudi Menuhin, the young violinist, whom he heard play the Elgar Concerto—a marvellous uplifting performance of a great work.