New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-16

Wilma Norman Neruda. OF Lady HAZE
as sbs was known by virtue Of the knight
lood conferred upon her late husband,
Charles Halle one OF the pioneers Of sym
pbonic concerts In England md a pianist
and instructor OF universal. fame inherited
her distinguished talents from a generation
of musical ancestors Of whom the earliest
known was Jakob Neruda. a native or KOS
siez, near Prague. who died In 1'32. isav-
Ing two CONS. johann Chrysostom ana 10
lam BAPTIST. Both were accomplished
performers. and held important posts as
capelimcisters, the second being moreover
a volunlnous composer. Johann Baptist $
two sons. Ludwig and Anton. were chamber
musicians to the IIlector Of Dresden.
Lady Halle however. was descended
from another branch Of the family. and so
early did her gifts assert themselves that
before reaching the age OF four she was
studying the violin under her fathers tut
ton Her progress was so sudden and as
founding that ere she had attained her
sixth year Il was deemed advisable 10 send
Ter 10 Vienna. where she might have the
advantage Of instruction from Leopold
Janss. the director Of music at the uni
yersity. After one years study little VIII
ma assisted by her elder sister as pianist,
made her first appearance In public The
Viennese public stood astounded at the
strength Of her bow arm. her facility Of
execution and her depth Of sentiment, and
with their natural enthusiasm lauded her
gifts far and wide. This success encour-
aged Josef Neruda 10 undertake a concert
tour with little Wilma. her sister and her
brother Fran as violoncellis, They jour
neyed through the chief cities Of North
Germany, Holland and Belgium. eventually
reaching England. \ contemporary critic
thus describes the initial performance in
London:
On this occasion Wilma had the position
assigned her Of sustaining the reputation Of
the family. and the little volinist came Off
EiJh the greatest eclat; she may justly be
deemed a prodigy. VieuXtemps's Arpeggio.
violin, voloncello ana piano. gave Wilma
an opportunity Of displaying her effective,
bold style Of bowling TO advantage, which
compartments Of her brother and sister on
the violoncelo ard piano. Ernst's cee-
bratcd Carnival de Venise" was tho next
piece selected 10 display the extraordinary
capabilities Of young Wilma. This humor-
oJs piece, calculated 10 display TO the ut
most the violinlsts command over the in
StruUcnt. was executed with 50 great a
degree Of taste. precision and confidence
that she ELECTED the most rapturous APP
plause from the audience. and an encore
was voci'erousy called for; but Wilma
would only return and acknowledge the
compliments by graceful obeisance.
Shortly afterward the little lady ap-
peared at Philharmonic Society concert,
playing De Beriot's Concerto in D. with
inevitable success. The family now
migrated TO Russia. where they had the
misfortune to lose the violoncellist of the
group. His place. however. was soon filed
by another brother and when the remain
ing sister Joined the party as second
violinst, the trio became a quartet. SO
cordial was their reception in Russia that
they revisited that country annually dur
ing the next ten years, arousing more and
more enthusiasm In proportion as they be-
came more popular and their talents
matured Now came their appearance at
the Gewsndhaus. Leipsic. and their trip TO
Denmark and Sweden. At Stockholm they
appeared before rhe King. who presente,