The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-07-18
THE0BALD|.
The Greatest vIo|inIst Since
The Days Of Paganini
and Ole Bull.
WITH HIS PRICELESS VIOLIN.

will be one OF the many star atrac'
tions to be heard here for the
Chautauqua Program. One Of the
greatest artists of the day.
One of the most important of the
numerous musical events of the splen-
did Chautauqua program is the ap-
pearance of Theobaldi. the Norwegian
virtuoso, who is one of the few really
great violinists of the present day, and
his playing recalls wildly the magic
spell which spread over the audiences
of Ole Bull, of whom, by the way,
Theobaldi was protegee. There Is
something grand and inspiring about
one is impressed with the power of
the man and the passion of his art.
His tones, now soft and low, then ris-
ing with swift cadence to the heroic
measures of his selection, carry his
hearers in perfect sympathy on and
to the end; before the hearty applause
which always greets this performer
there is that moment Of quiet which
in itself Identifies the true artist.
There has never been such an inter
prefer of Morse music as is Theo-
baldi and not such an artist since
Paganini and Ole Bull.
Theobaldi's methods are very sim
liar to those of Ole Bull and Paganini.
He has the same wonderful technic,
plays with the same dash and bril-
liancy, without sacrificing any Of soul.
He. is a great favorite with the pub
lie at large for, like Ole Bull and Pag-
amin, his programs are so arranged
as to present selections which dis
play his marvellous technic, but at the
same time present that which is ap-
preciated by those in his audience who
do not have technical understanding
of music. AS did Ole Bull and Pag-
amin, he plays to the public without
violating the canons Of good taste.
The fame of Ole Bull and Paganini
having been established with the pub
lie at large, will go down in history.
The same thing is true of Theobaldi.
He glorifes the violin in the eyes OF
the masses.
The Reward of Genius.
The youth who is trying to fan into
life the dormant fires of an , inherent
genius will find much to encourage
him if he will but emulate the example
set for him by Theobaldi, the wonder
full Norwegian violinist now touring
this country and who is billed to ap-
pear here during the Chautauqua.
The mother of Theobaldi was an
accompanist for the world-renowned
master of the violin, Ole Bull, during
the latter years of his life and her
fondest dream was that her little boy.
then studying under an able instructor,
might one day possess the power to
sway human hearts with his playing as
the great virtuoso had done. Both
mother and son were brought into
close touch with the nobility OF Nor
way and through this influence, aided
by excellent instruction, the mother
was delighted to see the boys genius
developing from the bud into the ex.
panding flower.
Brought before Ole Bull that he
might Judge of the boys talent and
progress, the veteran musician was as
founded at the boys aptitude and en-
claimed: "This boy will become my
successor" The prophecy has been
fulfilled. Naturally both Theobaldi
and his mother were greatly pleased
and encouraged by the favorable crit.
cism of the old master and, with a
common purpose in view, both strove
harder than ever thereafter to bring
the youthful genius to the highest
stage of perfection. One after another
the rounds of Fame's ladder We're
scaled by the ambitious boy, patient,
tireless, ever persevering, until the
great music lovers of the world were
bending the knee to his marvellous
genius and were proclaiming him King
of the Violin.
His own country made him Court
Musician, while the royal heads OF
Russia, England, Germany and Italy
conferred honors and decorations upon
him almost without stint when once
they had heard his humanized violin
speak to them through its soulful
they had heard his humanized violin
cadences. Sixty-two gold medals and
court decorations have been bestowed