1932-12-28 — Page 3

Page

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1932.

Art and Drama

· ROMANCE

RETURNS

TO SOVIET

:

Moscow-Romance no longer is exiled from the Soviet Union and the Society of Proletarian Writers, which had outcast romance in favour of the most rigid material- ism, has been dissolved and new society formed, called the Union of Soviet Writers, with Pegnaus less fettered.

The

Young Master

Menuhin Hailed As Violin Genius

*

PLAYED WITH ELGAR BEFORE

HE WAS

16

(By H. E. WORTHAM),

1

THE CHINA MAIL.

An editorial in the newspaper. Who shall define genius? Who The father goes on to ask what Izvestia recently proved by elabor-aay what is the mysterious quality has brought about his ripening in nte citations from Marx and Lenin of the most precious gift of the gods his son's art?-and answers that that materialism could wrong to mankind?

it is nothing but "our regular prin- romance right in a Socialist State. When all the philosophers have cipled procedure." But a boy like The editorial concluded in a burat passed it through the crucible of Yehudi naturally meets other grent of eloquence, "How can a nation their minds, its elements remain as musicians, and gains from this in-

tercourse. fail to be fired by romance and inexplicablo as before. young men see visions when we are building a new world?"

Genius simply is. And the only thing to do before it, as Schumann said of the young Brahms, is to take off one's hat.

Hours With Toscanini.

VETERAN PROPERTY MAN RETIRES.

London's Dean Of The

Profession.

50 YEARS ON THE STAGE.

(Reuter's Special Mail Service).

London.

disasters for the actors when they kapponed.

"I like to think best of the old days at the Standard Theatre in Shoreditch," he says. "People know what they wanted then, and if they did not get it they threw things at the actors. They wanted It is just fifty years since Mr. drama then, good solid melodrama, William Crisp, of the Lyceum Thea with the heavy man' as a really tre became a "property man"-the black villain who was either killed, man who makes the smaller things or hanged, or sent to prison.

"Often and often I have heard in a stage setting, from the dragon:

in the pantomime to the Chlef In- the old ladies say, 'Oh, I've enjoyed quisitor's chair in a melodrama. myself, I've been crying all the Now, at the age of 72, he is going evening. But the plays always to retire, to a cottage at Lyme Re-hud to have a happy ending.

"The heavy men' were always gis, on the beautiful Dorset const.

He has many an amusing story the star turns and always played to tell-chiefly of mishaps which the parts of the villain..... Often appears as jokes now, but were the audience used to take the plays so seriously that they would throw me! In the morning Yohudi had things at the villains.

Fine, Old Titles. dark lines under his eyes...

"At nine aim, the mail came, and "Many of the old melodramas for a strange coincidence happened: which Mr. Crisp made. the "Props" One of the outstanding events in The Gramophone Company requests had fine resounding titles-titles Worshipped Cold Gods.

his life this year was the six days the privilege of having Yehudi re-such as "Between Two Women," in May be spent with Toscanini on cord the Elgar concerto, with SirDriven from Home," "The Girl Perhaps, tuo, the Russians have

I took off mine to Yehudi Menu- an Atlantic liner. Yehudi passed Edward conducting his own work, Who Wrecked His Home," "A Girl's begun to realize that the worship of machines is overdone and that hin the first time I heard him. I happy hours every day in his com- on the occasion of the great mas- Cross Roads," "The Girl Who Took

ter's 75th birthday,

the Wrong Turning," "The Worst gods of metals are as dois of stone wondered, like everyone else, at the pany.

There was a boy, a

"Yehudi was wildly excited. If Woman in London,” and “A World can assure you (Yehudi's) and more treacherous on occasion. miracle. For this country is now in a sort healthy youngster, interpreting the father writes) that in terms of they can give me a month I sball of Sin."

"Things used to go wrong some- of intermediate period when every masterpieces with a complete matu- time, work, quantity and quality, tackle it, and hope to do it justice!'

Age?-He he could not have accomplished so "A telegram was sent, a date times," he relates with a chuckle. one is trying to make machines and rity of understanding.

much with anybody else in two was made, several days were set "I remember when we were doing use machines, but the making of the [is not yet 16.

We had the Beethoven Concerto months. It was an atmosphere of aside for going over the work with The Railroad of Life' there was a machines is not always good or easy and their use is often disappointing. thing to which great artists activity, feverish work, intense en-Sir Edward before the recording. scene in which a train' entered a The following letter was received tunnel on the stage. The 'train' So there is grumbling at the new have given their lives. And youngthusiasm on the part of both.

"Go Caro Toscanini would by Yebudi from his new friend, Sir was attached to the 'carriages' with god when he balks at reaping fields Yehudi, calm and absolutely un-

But, Maestro, Edward Elgar: I am delighted ropes, and it was part of our job or carrying a load. Besides, the moved, played it with a 'profundity always burst out. Russians are a fundamentally, roof thought and feeling that you don't you think there is something that you will use your wonderful to push it. I was with the train." mantic people, and bolshevism is a have said impossible for anyone wrong with my interpretation here, genius to record the violin concer- Someone was not watching for our This is a source of ene, for when it came the 'train' great romantic adventure, under- who had not lived and suffered from there?' 'Play on, go ahead. Bravo to with me.

|very great gratification to your de- wont off with a rush, but the 'car- taken by millions of youthful en- the slings and arrows of outrageous Bravissimo!'

voted and obliged admirer and riages' did not follow. thusiasts, who feel nothing of their

"The 'train' jerked up in the air friend, EDWARD ELGAR!' elders' fatigue or discouragement and care nothing about lost flesh- pots they have never known.

over

fortune.

1

"T

"When they walked the deck for hours later in the day, they would Progress With The Violin.

"That month was spent on the and wrecked the tunnel. But the Yehudi has never done that. The discuss points in the music, played whole world has agreed to acclaim or to be played. Yehudi will never Elgar Concerts. The themes Alled governor, Mr. Andrew Melville, was him as the genius of the violin, And forget the happy days he had with the air around our forest villa at very cute. He signalled for the Ville d'Avray, near Versailles, and curtain to be dropped and then went his father and mother are devoting his friend Toscanini.” STREET CHARACTER IN their lives, to making an environ- When they reached Paris Yehudi all the members. of the family, before the footlights and wang

NEW PLAY.

ment for Yehudi and his two little laid the basis of another friendship. even our Italian valet and his wife, Danger on the Line! The house sisters in which they shall enjoy Mr. Menuhin shall tell it in his own were whistling bits from it while simply roared.

washing dishes or cleaning furni- "Another time I got into awful Charles B. Cochran has taken their youth amid sound discipline words:

The gardener always gave trouble. We were playing 'The "One day Yehudi received a plece ture. dramatic rights of and home pleasures. the

Spanish Armada' in which there "Magnolia Street," and the author, One cannot explain the miracul- of music. Usually we plle up new the slow movement,

"We arrived in London three days was a Spanish Inquisition scene. A Louis Golding, is now making the ous. But one can see something of music in a corner in his music room first draft of the play. "When we the circumstances in which this ex-for more leisurely times. Some-ahead of time. Sir Edward Elgar pin came out of the Chief Inquisi- met the other day," Mr. Cochran traordinary boy is growing up. In how it was left on his desk. It was came to our hotel, prepared to work tor's chair, and when he sat down said, "I found that we were in a letter from his father which Mr. signed, "To Master Yehudi Menuhin. daily. Yehudi played the concerto the whole thing collapsed on the perfect agreement about the form Harold Holt has just shown me, from his admiring friend, Edward through once for him, and Sir Ed-stage.

ward's face beamed. He refused to "Once we were playing 'Unclo the adaptation should take. The Mr. Moshe Menuhin gives some re- Elgar, with all good wishes.'

Tom's Cabin, which was always chief character will be the street markably interesting particulars "In the evening, at ten o'clock, sit down.

"My dear boy, it cannot be bet- very popular. The heavy man* Itself, and the concentration will about his genius of a son.

we heard Yehudi whistling in his Berlin bed. He is always asleep by 8.80 ter. It is the finest rendering of who took the part of the slave In fact, we shall attempt to get the where Yehudi has just had an p.m. (and does not, as somebody has my concerto. It is. great. Let us dealer, Legree, was rather fond of real essence of the book on

Mr. Menuhin said, go to bed at eleven p.m.). We go to the races, or go and see Lon-his beer. One night he popped stage. It would seem to be an describes the enthusiasm amount-were aroused by that peculiar don. You need not work on it one round the corner in his make-up

single minute. It is perfect!"

and was arrested. I had to go and impossible task, but I can see a ing to frenzy of the Berlinera. But sound.

Record Of Elgar's Concerto.

"Yehudi was happy. It remind-

get him out." way of doing it."

he adds: Earlier this year Edward "What interests me is the fact "What is the matter, Yehudi?ed him of Toscanini's Bravo, Care, Knoblock worked out a scenario of Yehudi has progressed musically in You ought to have been asleep a Bravissimo!""

Studies of Chamber Music.. "Magnolia Street" for Julian the course of this past year tenfold! long time ago?"

"But, father, this concerto that Mr. Menuhin gives some interest- Wylie, who afterwards relinquish-He has matured in a fashion so ripe, ed his rights in the book because so masterly, and yet so human and we received to-day belongs to the ing details about Yehudi's methods there was insufficient interest in healthy that his playing now masterpieces; it is great stuff. Iof work. For three months during the provinces for a tour of the brings with it an atmosphere of love it. I am just crazy about its the past year he has worked with play.

happiness and joy."

Imany lovely melodies-they haunt Georges Enesco, who refuses to re-

not be upon one particular family

NEW

The

It

Рав written from

the enormous

success.

STOCK

JUST RECEIVED

World's Greatest

Lighter

RONSON

De-light

ENAMEL

cognise or call Yehudi his "pupil” He says that Yehudi's teachers, from his very babyhood, have learned from the boy as much as they have ever given him.

The two worked together on Yehudi's new repertoire.

He now knows forty-eight con- certos, all the sonatas of Bach (twelve), all of Beetlioven, Brahms,' Schubert, Schumano, Mozart, and a host of others. He has, of course, scores of smaller pieces at his com- mand. His thirst for knowledge, his father says, is insatiable. He insists upon studying and playing through all the chamber music that there is for the violin almost a life task by itself. ⠀

But music is not all of the life which he leads, for the most part at Versailles Four hours a day is given to it, and the rest of the work- ing day is occupied with teachers from the Sorbonne

Three hours is devoted to exer- cise, and twelve to sleep. "From 8.30 to 8.30 is sleep time, although It may come soon to eleven hours, from 9, p.m. to 8 a.m. This is a law, and going out at night is a rare thing!" The youthful Yehudi is an unusually good chess player for his age.

A Prodigy's Home Life. Mr. Moshe Menuhin is a deter- wined parent. He has no use for schools. "Our children never have been at school," he says, and be holds very decisive views:G

"Our home is a school plus a con servatoire. You see, we were once teachers, both my wife and I. We

THE PERFECT LIGHTER cold not inculcate any real good

The

WING ON COD

CHONG KONG

in others under the present ridicu lous system of education, wherein mass production in education re

production of this We have decided to lives to our own child- ren, and give them individual at-

facts

Industr

dedicate

revelation of the musicar chudi was, he declares, demanded only that fere with the

DAINTY ARTICLES

suitable for

NEW YEAR PRESENTS

Prices ranging from 50 cents upwards

at

MESSRS. KOMOR & KOMOR

Art & Curlo Experts,

-York Building,

Chater Road.

Just arrived a choice collection of

Old Rugs and Carpets.

DEMON

COMBINED HEATER AND COOKER

LIGHT IT LEAVE IT

So smooth-so mild-

THE NEW

SYSTEM

DEMON is an entirely new. and, patented system which makes its own gas without pamplog or pressure. Not. just "blue-flames" but a perfect, filter- ed gas flame. Intense heat without trace of fumes or smell. 1

ECONOMICAL-burus 5 hours with' each pint of kerosine, and 10 hours at one filling.

ABSOLUTELY SAFE- no need to watch the fume,

TESTED AND APPROVED BY GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE, LONDON

Obtainable from:

Sander Wieler & Co. 5. Des

Voeux Rd., C.

The Sincere Co., Ltd.

The Wing On Co., Ltd:

Ming. Fong Hong,

Vocux Rd., C.

145, | Des

Sun Koy Hong, 149, Des Voeux

Rd G

so pleasing to my throat"

Embassy

YOUR

(Mild) Cork-Tipped Cigarettes

THROAT

LIKES THEM