Evening star., 1937-10-09
Childhood
Fame Won
In Music
Symphony Brings
SOlOists With
Life Record.
IF YOU want to become a famous

IF YOU want to become a famous
violinist or pianist, try to arrange
for your first public performance at
the age Of 9. At least that seems to
be one Of the right years, If the expe-
rience OF group of world-famous
soloists, who will appear this season
with the National Symphony Orches-
ira under the baton of DR.. Hans
Kinder, is any criterion. Ruggiero
Ricci, phenomenal young violinist;
Josef Hofmann, renowned pianist;
Ruth Posselt. American violinist of
note, and Mischa Elman, all began
their climb up the ladder Of musical
fame at that tender age.
Take the case Of Ruth Posselt, who
makes her Washington debut with the
orchestra on January %. She made
two debuts at the age of 9-one in
Carnegie Hall. New York, and the
other in Bostons Symphony Hall.
Since then her rise to the pinnacle
of musical fame has been a steady
one.
Born in Medford, Mass, her first
actual public appearance was made
in Boston when she WAS only 6, but
the real bow took place three years
later, after study with the famous
teacher. Emanuel Ondricek. Her de-
but created sensation; critics hailed
her as "child'wonder. Unlike many
prodigies who are never heard Of after
their debut, her musical growth con-
tinued At IA she appeared as soloist
with the New York Symphony Or
chestra under DR.. Walter Damrosch,
and with the Peoples Symphony Or
chestra in Boston. Winner of the
Schubert memorial prize in competi-
ton against 165 violinists, and the
National Federation Of Music Clubs
prize, she made an American tour in
1901.
Later she studied In Paris with
Jacques Tribaud She made her Eu-
ropean debut in 1892 and within a
year became famous on the conti-
mental concert platform. She appeared
with the major symphony orchestras
Of England, Holland, Germany, AUS
tria, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Swe-
den, and was the first American
woman violinist who was invited to
tour Russia.
Then there is the career Of San
Francisco-born Ruggiero Ricci, who,
though still in his teens. has been
hailed by critics as one Of the most
astonishing musical geniuses Of the
age. Ruggiero, whose father plays
violin and trombone, and whose six
brothers and sisters are all musical,
started his study of the violin as soon
as he could hold the three quarter
size fiddle his father purchased for
him.
He was when he created q furor
in New York musical circles by his
playing Of the Mendelssohn Concerto
in an appearance as soloist with the
Manhattan Symphony Orchestra. Nu-
merous concert and recital appear
ances followed, but his parents wisely
refused to let Ruggiero play more
than a dozen concerts . year, in order
to enable him to balance the study
dLlO PlHy VI = AAOLulhA UOy Will blkc
development of his musical genius.
Mischa Elman, supreme master OF
the violin, who will play with the
National Symphony on February 16,
was also a child prodigy. He began
his study Of the violin at the early
age Of S. Three years later came
his first public performance At =
school concert in Odessa, where the
celebrated Leopold Auer heard him
play. Success followed rapidly, and
by the time the young violinist was
13 he was famous throughout Europe.
The opening concert will be given
on Sunday afternoon, October 81. in
Constitution Hall, when the Wag-
merriam Festival Singers appear Is
soloists with the National Symphony.
Season tickets for both the Wednes-
day night series Of eight evening
concerts and the Sunday afternoon
series of IL concerts are now on sale
at the symphony box ONCE on the
main floor Of the julius Garfinkel Il
Co. store, Fourteenth and F streets
northwest.