The San Francisco call., 1898-05-22
YSAYE AND GERARDY
 ARRIVED LAST NIGHT.
HERE TO FILL A LOCAL
 ENGAGEMENT.
The Eminent Violinist Has Kind Word to Say for His Illus trious Contemporary,
 Remenyi.

Ysaye, the distinguished violtnist, and Jean Gerardy, the famous Belgian violon- cellist, arrived in this city late last night on the overland, accompanied by their American manager, Victor Thrane Of New York, and the party registered at the Baldwin. They have come to this city to play local engagement, which gives promise of being the musical sen- sation of the year.
 Ysaye needs no introduction to the music-loving public, and those who have had the good fortune to listen to btI matchless execution and technique on the king of instruments will no doubt gladly avail themselves of the opportunity of hearing so distinguished a violinist again.
 It is singular coincidence that both Ysaye and Gerardy are natives of Liege, Belgium, and d still more noteworthy fact that Gerardy, who has now reached point of excellence where he may sue cessfully challenge comparison with any living exponent of that sympathetic and most difficult instrument, the violoncello, is but 20 years of age, d mere boy in ap- pearance, and made his American debut in New York just three years ago.
 Ysaye in an interview said: It is true that l will organize an orchestra in America, and ! am on the lookout for good musicians, who are sometimes found where you least expect. At the same time l desire it understood that l do not intend to pose as Anton Seidl' s
 
 osition to the members of the Ssidl orchestra toward assuming leadership over that body. My orchestra will be composed Of musicians of my own choos- ing, and if I can get such men as will suit me rom the Seidl orchestra I will certainly make arrangements with them. offer to become his concertmeister just before his death, and the matter was to have been discussed between us on the very. evening upon which MT. Seidl died.'
 When the name of Remenyi was men, tioned, the illustrious virtuoso said, sad ly: An, poor fellow; his was a pathetic death. J heard him play once, about six months ago, and he gave evidence of the musical genius that possessed his soul lie was Of another generation, however, but none the less magnificent artist could have wished that he had not de- scended to vaudeville; but we are all beautiful though tragic death, dying with his beloved instrument clasped to his heart. and one on which he had evoked so many delightful strains!"
 Gerardy, a bright, handsome young man, is quiet, unassuming person, and his modest conversation gives no evil dence of the wonderful talent he pos sesses. "I began to study the violoncello, ,' he said, when was years of age, with Bellman of the Heckman Quartet of Cologne, and made my first public ap- pearance in Liege in 1888. Shortly after, in Antwerp, l performed the Trio of Rubenstein in conjunction with Pader- eWski and Ysaye, and l believe that it was the proudest moment of my life, for l considered it an extraordinary compli- ment to boy only Il years to be con- Sidered by these great artists worthy of performing in trios with them. I made my first appearance in England at that time, and when 13 years old 1 played with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra of which Hans Richter is the conductor, and after that went to Berlin, where l played with Von BuloW.'