The Washington herald., 1908-02-02
Wilhelmj Recognized as the
Foremost Maestro.
LISzT PROMISED HIM FAME
Striking Recognition from Moment
of Initial Public Appearance-HaiI-
ed as Another PaEanini-''U Unknown
Yesterday, Celebrated To-day" Was
Verdict on Hearing Him Play.

49, = A@oN AaA4AAA AftiitAAl u AAAlielAtn ~ II
helmj the world is deprived Of one OF
its greatest and most inspired violin
lists, whose fame extends over all
civilized countries. In his case heredi-
tary genius was fostered and developed
by all that was best in musical instruc-
tion and association.
He was born in the village of
Usingen, near Wi,sbaden. on September
., 1916. His father. who was weu-to-
do, held an important official posi-
jon, and was himself an enthusiastic
musician. possessing more than com
mon mastery over the violin
Among his Intimate friends were
Bismarck, the future chancellor. and
Richard Wagner
One of his hobbies was the col
lection of rare Instruments.
The boys mother. whose maiden
name was Charlotte Petry, was not
only an admirable pianiste-she had
been a pupil of Choptn-but also
singer Of considerable ability
Reared in Musical Atmosphere.
Thus. from his infancy. he was
reared I'm "a musical atmosphere. and II
was not long before he exhibited the
signs OF an extraordinary preCocity in
playing upon the violin His parents
promptly placed him under the direc-
ton of the C0nccrtmeister. Fischer. in
Wiesbaden
BY the time that he was nine years
old the child played the big Vieux-
tempts Ua-or concerto. the Ernst
"Othello' fantasy, and two Paganini
caprices at the court theater.
But luckily nc was not exploited as
a prodigy His father was uncon-
WINGED OF the extraordinary talent Of
his son, and therefore gave him a solid
scientific education.
As the lad applied himself devoted
~ 10 his Instrument. however. Herr
Wilhelmj decided 10 leave the decision
10 liszt. The master himself accom-
panied the sixteen-year-old boy. who
played Spohrs "Ges8ngssc and
Ernsts Hungarian Airs"
" hen he had finished. List iumped
up from the piano and cried.
And they could be doubtful about
your calling Music is born in you.
and YOU ere so strongly predestined
for the violin that If the instrument
had not already existed they would
have had To invent it for YOU"
"a Second PaganinI."
In a few days Liszt took the boy 10
David az Leipzig. aud handed him
over with the words. 4 am bring
ing you a second Paganini. Take
good care Of him."
August then studied at the LEIPZIG
Conservatory for four years. ana
celebrated the completion Of his work
there with a wonderful performance Of
Joachim's exceptionally difficult Hun
garian' concerto.
Hitherto he had worked under David
Hauptmaun and Richter. but in 1864
he proceeded 20 Frankfort for partic-
ular studies under Raf, after which
he made his first concert tour in
Switzerland.
In the spugg of the following year
he visited Holland and In the autumn
he made his way 10 London. being
just tweuty-one. Through the in
fuence Of Jenny Lind. he made his
first appearance before an English
audience at the promenade concerts
given at Covent Garden Theater under
the coaductorship Of the late Alfred
Mellon.
The actual date was September Il
ls6G. The Musical World thus re-
corded the event:
"On Monday a new violinist. Herr
Wilhelmj- sppeared, and created an
extraordinary sensation.
Very little is known about Herr
Wilhelm. lie Is. we hear. Pole
He is little more than twenty years
Of age.
He played a piece by Pasanini and
Ernst's Airs HOngrois, and was rap
turously encored in both.
Greatest Success Possible.
AT present we are obliged TO con-
tent ourselves with stating that
greater success could not possfblv
have been achieved: that from the
opening notes Of the violinist the
audience was enraptured and the
members Of the band astonished; and
that all concurred in the opinion that
Herr Wilhelmj was a first-rate master
Of his art"
The fame Of the new violnist soon
spread Tn November he appeared
for the first time. at the Monday popu-
lar concerts, leading MendeIssohn's
Ottet, playing Beethovens Romance in
+. and taking part, with Charles
Halle and Piatti. in Mendelssohns CI
minor Trio.
Concerning WIlhelmj's part In the
concert, Mr.. Davidson wrote:
In Romance Gin p Of Beethoven
he tWiinelmD proved himself as con-
summate a master Of the simDlv
expressive as in Mendelssohu's Ottet
Of the graudiose' in chamber music"
In Paris soon afterWaTd he was
received with the greatest enthusi- |
asm- At one of Pasdeloup's concerts |
populairs pour Ia musique elias
sique,' given IN the Cirque Napoleon
IN 1867. he was called by the critics !
le nouveau Paganini," and the
Parisians used to say in tones of |
"Inconnu hier. le VOLTA
celeDre aujourd'hui."
HOROred by Italy.
He visited Italy in the autumn and
7t Florence his performances Of |
music earned for him the title
Of Protector of the Scotia di Quarteto.
In January. 1868. he accepted an in |
vitation from the Grand Duchess |
Helena Pawlowna of Russia TO visit |
St Petersburg. In the Russian capi- |
tai he dwelt in the Palais Michel with |
Hector Berlioz who said:
Never before have I heard a |
fiolinist with a tone so grand, so en-
chanting. and so noble as that of |
August Wilhelmi"
And it was this nobility of tone |
deep, rich. sonorous. luscious, or melt |
ng, which was the chief and invari- |
able distinction of his PLAYING
throughout his career. 1t invested his
interpretations with an inspirational /
sloGuence which was even more i'm
nTessiVe than the marvellous COCO |