Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-18
WILHELM,
The Versatile Genius Of the VOLTA

The coming Of the renowned violin.
list, Wilhelmj, is an event Of more
than ordinary interest to the music
loving and cultivated portion Of oul
citizens. Wherever the great yirtuosc
has appeared in this country he ha,
drawn delighted crowds, and his mar.
velous execution on the instrument
over which he is SO skillful a master
draws forth expressions of admiration
from all classes.
The accomplished artist, August
Wilhelmj, is a native Of Usingen, Ger
many, having been born amid the
fragrant and fertile vineyards of the
Rhine in 1916. He comes of good
stock, bis father being a doctor of laws.
who has served as the attorney general
of Prussia. At the early age of seven
years Wilhelmi attracted the attention
of the great lyric artist, Henrietta
Sontag, his progress on the violin at
that time causing to predict for him a
brilliant future. At eight years old
he played in a string quartettc by
Haydn after hearing it but once, aud
at that early age he had achieved all
the graces and ornamentation Of a true
artistic, besides observing time and
phrasing correctly.
His progress was rapid, ambition and
a desire to win renoun causing him to
practice almost increasingly. At nine
years of age he appeared with success
at a public concert. Two years later
he created a furore at the Court The
alter, Wcisbaden.
At sixteen years of age Wilheimj
met the composer List, who himself
served as sccompanist. The young
artistic performed with so much ability
that List exclaimed with enthusiasm /.
The violin is your destiny. Had
there been no such instrument, it
would have been invented for your
sake! Work Practice The world
will talk of you very soon r
After this the artistic served three
years in the Conservatory of Music
at Leipsic, under Herr Ferdinand
David directed his violin studies
and formed for him that classic purity
of style which so distinguishes his
performances of solos and quartettes
His mastery over the violin became so
noted that that many fellow students
regarded him as one miracuously en-
dowed. At a public examination in
1862 he executed Ernsts concerto
pathetiquc in F sharpe miner with
such exquisite feeling that the events
still remembered in Leipsic. Soon
after he was accepted as the first of
yiolinists.
In 1865 he made a tour Of Europe,
visiting Holland the year following
also went to England, where Jenny
Lind assisted him to appear at Coyent
Garden, on which occasion he was
welcomed as a second Paganini. In
1867 he appeared in Paris, where he
enchanted his audiences. One Of the
papers said of him. Yesterday he
was nobody; to-day he is the admira-
ton of everybody He next went to
Italy, soon after to st. Petersburg,
travelled afterward in Switzerland,
France and Belgium, then TO Holland,
where he was honored with torch
light professions, and where audiences
fairly rose at him.
From 1919 to 1911 Nllhelmj de-
voted himself to Wagner's music, CON
tributing largely to the success of the
Bayrcuth festival; working with so
earnest an industry to aid this colossal
musical event that be fell i'll and came
near losing his life. On recovering he
resumed his musical labor with re-
doubled energy.
One Of his greatest qualities is the
extraordinary versatility Of his genius
another is the inimitable purity Of bis
tones. Every style finds in him a
master, and he performs with equal
skill and success tho works Of scores
Of composers. The purity of bis into
nation, the superb accuracy Of his
having the resonance Of his thirds,
sixths, octaycs and double runs, all
combine to entitle him to be called
the violin king. His appearance at
the Memphis Theater next Friday
night will be looked forward to as one
promising much pleasure.
We have never seen "GOOD
CLOTHES" sold as CHEAP" ms
they arc now being offered by
u. ~. DRAKE * 90,