The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-03
GREAT VIOIJNIST WILL BE AT
CITY AUDITORIUM JANUARY IS

Rarely has a local musical event
created greater attention than that at
taching to the announced appearance
Of FRITZ Kreisler. generally acknowl-
edged the greatest OF living violinists,
who will be heard In concert at the
City Auditorium Monday evening.
January 20. On that occasion he will
have the capable assistance of Nine.
Elizabeth Van Endert. the principal
lyric soprano OF the Berlin and Dres-
den Royal Opera. and Of John Powell,
the Richmond pianist, who Is justly
conceded to he the foremost of Ameri-
can opponents of the piano keyboard.
There is little need of laudatory
Fritz Kreisier Although still young
man. he hns won his way by dint OF
perseverance,. reinforced by absolute
genius, TO the foremost rank OF pres
ent day violin virtuosi. Each succeed
ing season he has spent in America
has paved the way for greater sue
cesses and increased popularity with
discriminating music loverN and his
present tour Of this country has. thus
far served to transcend his most brill
liant personal triumphs In the past.
OF course, II is In the dual role Of
musician and soldier that Mr.. Kreisler
has returned 10 America for his pres
ent tour. When the European war
broke out the violinist Joined his regi.
rnent in the Austrian dragons on the
first day OF mobilization and sub
sequently fought in the trenches until
a serious wound rendered him unfit
for further military duty. The story
of his experiences In that terrible con-
fiict have been told. At first his death
was reported and American musicians
looked upon this tragic event as a
personal Gala nifty II afterward de-
veioped that he had been ridden down
by a Russian Cossack in a hand to-
hand conflict that was only terminated
With the almost humiliation OF his
cgiment Confinement to one of the
nase hospitals followed and with his
ubsequent discharge from active ser
vice, kreisle- came to America to full
I'll the terms of a contract made a
year ago for sixty American engage
ments
Capacity Audiences I'm New York.
| At his initial appearance In Car
negie Hall, New York. three weeks
ago, enthusiastic music lovers filed
the spacious auditorium and occupied
every available inch on the platform
and at the rear of the hall. Hundreds
were turned away The same ex-
! perience was recorded with his sub
sequent appearance IN Boston, Phila-
delphia and other metropolitan
centers. while the demand for his ser
vices has become SO great that his
original nun.l er OF engagements dur
ing the present season has already
been increased to eighty.
! Nine Van Endert made her intro
ductory appel rance in this country a
year ago. when she WAS specially en-.
gagged as solo.st to tour with the Bos-
ton symphony Orchestra. This de-
lightful artist had previously achieved
distinction on the operate stage in the
music centers of the Old World. and
for several years has been a high
favorite with Berlin and Dresden
operagoers as tho principal lyric so.
prano OF the Royal Opera In those two
cities. 1t was there that DR. Car
Muck. the distinguished conductor OF
the Boston Symphony, heard her for
the frst time and ne Immediately en-.
gagged her fer n limited number Of en-.
gagements with the celebrated band
Her success in this country was i'm
mediate and in view OF the high favor
with which she was received her re-
turn for a recital tour was effected
Mr.. Powell a Home Product.
The local public needs no introduc.
ton to Mr.. Powell. He Is distinctly a
home product, and Virginians gener.
ally have watched his extra ordinar,
career with the Jealous regard that in
lvariably attaches to a native son. II
has been two years since he has been
heard here in public, and during his
absence he has gained all the distinc.
ton that success In the musical cen.
ters of England and Continental
Europe can yield. without question he
now occupies a position in. the fore.
most ranks Of present day pian.sts
while he easily stands at the head OF
his American contemporaries.
The concert will be given under the
management Of W. H Belts. a local
impressario, who has conceived the
idea that musical interests in Rich
mond are sufficiently great to support
the best that musical art can afford
The forthcoming event is but a part
iof n scheme evolved by Mr. Belts &c
meet hat he regards as a growing de-
mand for increased musical activities
In this. city, and aside from the artistic
merit OF the announced concert. pub
Tic spirit In itself should support sucf
n worthy ambition.
i"ALTAS JIMMY VALENTINE
COMING TO BIJOU THIS WEEK
! alias Jimmy Valentine" one OF the