The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-29
Two Wonder Children
OF Piano Key New York
To Highest Enthusiasm

A decidedly Interesting sketch OF
Musical Prodigies." written by Oscar
Thompson, appeared In a recent IS
sue OF Musical America. The article
says:
sWithin a fortnight. New York
audiences have been keyed 20 a high
pitch of enthusiasm by two Instances
OF exceptional promise. linked Win
no mean measure OF precocious
achievement.
'.rwo wonder-chlldren OF the piano.
Maria Antonio. nine years Old ana
Jerome Rsppaport. a year younger.
have been among the most talked-"f
recitaIists OF the season. Audiences
In. Aeolian Hall went into raptures
over them.
.Leaving to scientists their favorite
indoor sport OF analyzing the psy-
chology OF the prodigy, there is no
denying that q sort OF mystery win
a touch OF the sncanny In H. plays
a part In the sensation which ,ne
precocious child musician Invariably
produces. Wonder as TO what the In
scrptable future will bring-the doubt
as % whether here Is a coming giant
or only q freak talent that quickly
will burn itself up-plays as great
a part. perhaps, In fascinating ana
in stirring unusual interest as the
child's actual demonstration or ex7
ceptional gifts.
Like Chsbby kewpie.
.sThe writer rescribed chubby little
Maria Antonio as a Kewpie Carreno.
as no other term seemed to sum up
so well the twin Impressions she
made. The one. that she was a story
book illustration. who ought to be
accompanied by a nursery Jingle, an
she tossed her head and hunched her
plump little shoulders. The other.
here was a born pianist, with an In
stinctive feeling for the instrument
that was something more than
teacher could give her, and something
apart from her surprising technicai
facility. She halls from Brazn'
whence came the gifted Guiomar NO
vaes. The Brazilian government IL
said TO be interested in her further
musical education, and to be sending
her to the Paris Conservatoire. Her
teacher in Brazil was Henriques
Oswald. a highly gifed musician
best known as composer.
Jerome Rappaport is a New York
product, comely and very much self
contained when before his audience
exhibiting a precise little bow, brisk
walk. and world OF assurance at
the piano, WneTe ne nae ~ OF NsN'a
to reach the pedals. Before his new
York recital he had been heard pri-
yateiy by noted musicians who ac-
claimed him a real wondcr-child.
| .'Whether they will drop from sight
like Ernst Won Lengyel. who. at
eleven was one of the sensations OF
Europe. and who died in Berlin IN
1915 almost forgotten. or whether
they will ripen into world greatness
as Josef HOFFMAN, and not few
other prodigies have done. is a riddle
that may have to be left unsolved Tor
decade or more.
Plano ProAiEies Rare.
"Prodigies of the piano have not
been numerous in New York OF re-
cent years. Last year. Magdelelne
Brard attracted much attention when
she came to America at fourteen, a
prize winner from the Paris Conser-
vatoire. whittier Maria Antonio now
Is headed. The gulf between nine
and fourteen liz. of course. wide. The
Brard child was nine when shc enter
ed the conservatoire. to become
pupil OF Cortot. There, at twelve she
won the Prix d'Exccllence and az
thirteen the Prix d'Honneur. She had
a repertoire of more than hundred
numbers. when In New York, an illus
tration of the remarkable musical
memory that invariably seems to ac-
company prodigies of the piano. Self
taught at first. the girl had mastered
a number of pieces" when she was
called upon one day to play a scale
and could not.
"Pepito Arriola caused furore in