The San Francisco call., 1904-07-12

Florizel Won Reuter-. the 12-year-old
composer. violinist and conductor who
IS composing an opera with Carmen
sylvia. Queen Of Roumania. was max
ing his brief visit 70 the United States
two years ago, some photographs were
taken Of him. I succeeded, however,
IN the course Of a chat with the child
yesterday in getting from kim the ac-
companying likeness which was taken
al MS home in Geneva quite recently
and which has never before been pub
lshed.
By virtue OF his remarkable per
formances in Continental cities during
the last year and q half and the favor
he enjoys al the hands Of his royal
patron, the youth Is in a fair way 70
become as popular here as Franz Won
Necsey. the child musician who tours
America next fall under q s70.O 900 guar
antee. II is understood that as a re-
suit OF a personal letter from Carmen
sylvia, Queen Alexandra will receive
little Won Reuter- at Buckingham Pal
ace within the next few days. He
vious engagement there having been
50 unfortunately cut short by Illness
after less than half a dozen perform
snces in Boston and New York.
Florizel was hardly 3 when he
first gave indication Of an amazing
talent for music. He soon began study
ing the violin, developing rapidly dur
ing the next five years under the di-
rection Of Yssye, Henri Marteau and
other prominent masters. Now ne
knows all the difficult Wagnerian
scores by heart and the music OF
TschaikOwsky, Beethoven and Mozart
is as familiar as his alphabet He is
said 10 have a repetoire Of more thar
$50 pieces and can discuss all branches
Of music with the skill of a veteran
Last November while Reuter- was I'LL
ing a concert engagement in Bucharest
the Queen Of Roumania heard him
play. She was attracted not only by
his music but by his great mop oi
curly golden hair, the possession OF
which is regarded as an omen Of good
luck by the dark haired Roumanians
Carmen sylvia invited the young artisi
% the palace and there began a friend.
ship which has almost resulted in the
boys adoption by his patron. Nearly
every day since he has been in Londor
he has received long letters from tbs
Queen in English, several Of which hs
showed me. detailing the pleasures II
store when he returns to Segenhaus
the summer palace OF the Queen a
Neuwied, and signed Mamma Regina
Elizabeth 10 her dear Flowerchild."
Probably the boy win go 10 NeuwieC
about the middle Of July. It was Will
some difficulty that Queen GARNER
sylvia was persuaded to let him com.
20 London and every letter is full o.
the opera, the libretto OF which she al
ready has begun. II deals with tn,
life Of Joan OF Arc.
Reuter- has composed a violin con
certO, a quartet and a symphoni,
poem, besides numerous orchestral anC
violin pieces. One Of the most inter
esting features Of his performance il
his conducting and at his first concer
here be will lead the Covent Gardei
orchestra through a symphony of hi.
own composition. Asked about hi
conducting. he said:
1T IS about three years ago since
took il up. Not long ago I conducted
the court orchestra at Athens and thel
wanted me to be its permanent con
cuctor. but. Of course, I refused"
In March the yOungster had TIL
unique honor of playing TO the SultaI
Of Turkey and 2S3 Of Abdul Hamidi