The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-05
MT. Klenk and Mr. Kreisler

N the worlds orchestra Fritz Kreis-
 Ter is one of the first violins" = simply because he is so much more than violinist, and in consequence if the world were searched today in an effort to find a musician whom all other musicians unanimously without a dissenting voice would crown king of the violin" there is only one name which would be eligible and that name is-"Fritz Kreisler"
 Musicians may come and musicians may go; there s Farrar, the beautiful and fascinating, whose voice, critic and layman alike find fault with; there is Mary Garden of the marvellous per sonality and superb physical pulchri- tude whose, voice pleases some-and displeases others; there is the colorful cobra ture soprano Luisa Tetrazzini grown fat and florid: there is Kubelik, who plays like an automatic organ grind CT; there is Muscha Elman, technically there isc Muscha Elman, technically accurate but minus--soul; there is this one, that one, and the other one, but when you ask group of musicians who is the one and only 100 per cent musician of the day, the answer comes like flash of lightning:
 Fritz kreisler."
 Far be it from me to criticize, but musicians as q class are more prone 10 see the faults in their contempora- ries, in their rivals-and to say so, nfb fbAu rlac nf +iet1 tn ba world
 Knockers" they are frequently dubbed" and rightfully, too, for as have remarked in the foregoing sen- tences. no two of them ever agree upon any one star, except
 Fritz Kreisler."
 And how delightfully."- refreshing i. is to have this great genius, this great talent, this great heart and mind and soul, to speak to us this evening thro' his beloved violin-from the stage O. tle Jefferson when he will present one of his choicest and most beautiful pro grammes!
 Of the many encomiums of praise bestowed upon MT. Kreisler none is more significant than the tribute which our own MT. Clarence R. Klenk, paid him yesterday when I sat in his attractive studio and chatted with him about MT. Kreislers concert.
 Mr. Klenk whose beautiful violin playing, heart and soul dominating his interpretations and his inspirations all ways, is one of Birmingham's best IT. usicians from every angle; he has made music his life work; he has mas tered it and loves it and his admiration of MT. Kreisler is enlightening com ing from one worthy to judge.
 What can say of MT. Kreisler that hasn't already been said?" MT. Klenk suggested as I asked him to nominate in the bond" just what made Fritz Kreisler the greatest of them all? Tt is indefinible; his great talent; his soul; his heart; his mind. You can't describe it; he just plays; that's all"
 He never practices" MT. Klenk continued. "He doesn't have to do so; he doesn't study because he knows it all; anything that he plays he plays it more beautifully than any one else; his interpretations are different; they are celestial; his technique is like none other; in other words, he has ev- cry quality: he is the one and only 100 per cent violinist of the day.
 Sometimes when I listen to Kreis- lers playing and see him standing in the center of the stage looking over the vast audiences which always greet him. MT. klenk continued, he looks as if his mind was not on his playing at all; certainly his eyes are not on the instrument he loves so much and I think that he must feel as they said Ole Bull felt; that it is the spirits the angels which are making him play so divinely.
 Broad lines. majestic expression, epical presentation are the distinguish ing marks of MT. Kreisler's playing" said MT. Klenk. "and from the first time I ever heard him, which was in Cincinnati when he was playing the Tartini Variations anad by the way l am delighted that he is using this number on his programme here this and Miss Annie Gayler from Dana hall, Wellesley; Hiss Sarah Eubank, Sempie school; Miss Frances Hood from Scudder, Miss Mary Allen Northington from Smith