TWO, THE MICHIGAN DAILY
SUNDAY, OCT. 18,.1941.
Polish Piariist,
WilPlay Here
OnJanary 18
HIofiann. Idol Of Crities;
Audiences At Height
Of Famous Career
Josef Hofmann, world famous pi-
anist, will play here Monday, Jan. 18,
in Hill Auditorium in the Choral 'Un-
ion Concert series. Critics and adi-
ences are hailing himi as at thie'height
of his career, as a greater pianist than
ever, as an artist who performs each
year better than he did the year be-
fore.
This man who is today called the
greatest of living pianists was born
in Poland in 1816.: His first interest
in music was aroused by the operas
which he attended with his parents.
His father, who was an orchestra con-
ductor at the Cracow Municipal Op-
era House, recognized his talent ad
gave him his first lessons
First Appearance
At six, the child made his first
public appearance at a charity con-
cert. There was no doubt that youlng
Josef Hofmann was a genius. Short-
ly after this he studied with dsz-
kowske and Urban. At the age' of six-
teen he became the only private pupi
of Anton Rtubenstein.
Hofmann made his first appear-
ance in this country as a child of ten
at the Metropolitan Opera House in
New York City. He was hailed as a
musical phenomenon. After his de-
but, he made a tour of the country,
planning to give eighty-eight con-
certs in all, while Europe cried for his
return.
However, the Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Children inter-
vened, and he was not allowed to fin-
ish his tour. Hofmann did not play
in public again until he was eighteen.
In the meantime, he devoted his en-
tire efforts to studying music and
getting a general education.
Appeared Again
On his eighteenth birthday, he ap-
peared again in public and played
Rubenstein's D minor Concerto ini
Hamburg after spending only two
days in learning the music.
Six months later, Hofmanin set out
again to tour the world. Since that
time, Josef Hofmann's public career
has been one of uninterrupted tri-
tumphs, and the world continues to
acclaim him as the foremost pianist
of the day.
The name of Hofmann is closely
identified with American musical his-
tory. For over a decade, he devoted
much of his time to developing the
Curtis Institute of Music in Philadel-
-phia. He resigned his post as director
of the Institute in 1938 so that he
i could devote all his time to concerts.
- Hofmann the man maintains a
e manner of extreme simplicity, an in-
, credible simplicity for one who has
spent so much of his life before an
s audience. His interests are similar to
z the average business man. He loves to
s hike, to work with tools, to work in
s his garden and to talk with his
friends
A Message From Dr. Sink
The;University Musical Society recognizes the fact that we are
at w* r. The minds of one' and all are occupied with serious problems,
both national and personal. To meet these problems squarely and ef-
fectively, the Board of Directors believes that now, more than eyer,
good music can make an important and worthy contribution. There-
fore, the Society, ever mindful of presenting to the University com-
munity, both to students and faculty, and to the citizens generally,
programs of highest artistic worth, has made.every effort to choose
for its offerings outstanding artists and organizations.
It is wholesome to relax occasionally from the stress and the
strain of the times, to give oneself over to the contemplation of things
beautiful, and to meditate theron-the better to forge forward with
renewed and greater energy in surmounting obstacles. The Society
hones, and believes, that the culture-minded citizens of the Univer-
sity, Ann Arbor, ard its environs, is in accord with these principles;
and is confid~nf that the artists and organizations who are to be
heard will be graciously received, and that their offerings will consti-
tute worthy contributions to our united efforts in pushing forward in
the direction of all that America holds dear.
Should government rules and regulations, under the stress of
presenit circuhstances, prevent the appearance of any of the artists
or organizations announced, due notice will be given, and appropriate
substitution twillbe-made.
The University Musical Society expresses sincere appreciation to
its patrons and friends for their loyal cooperation over a period of
many years. This- support is responsible for the Society's sixty-four
years of continuous efforts in the field of music development and-
appreciation.
CHARLES A. SINK, President'
University Musical Soeiety
Violinit Jascha Heifetz To Play
In Choral Union Concert Series
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e.
SYMPHON Y
SERGE KOUSSEVITZKY, Conductor
Pore thirteen consecutive seasons the Bos-
ton Symphony Orchestra has been playing
Serge Koussevitzky to and; pleasing Ann Arbor audiences.
Again this sear the- University Musical
Society takes great pleasure in presenting this fine organization
under the direction ofo one Gf Music's great personalities, Dr.
Serge Koussevit'zky.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9th
Jascha Heifetz, geheraily acclaimed 7
to be the 'world's greatest living vio-
linist, will play here Tuesday, Feb.
16, in Hill' Auditorium in the Choral-
Union Concert Series.
Since Iteifetz first stpped on the
stage of Carnegie' Hall in 1917 at"
the age of 16, he has won the'hearts
of thousands of Aterican music
lovers with his inimicable interpre-
tations of the world's most beauti-
ful works of art.
Beiiever In Great Music
Always a' believer in great music
for the masses, the Russian violinist
is not only filling a more extended
tour this season than last but is also
playing in as many concerts in army
camps as his route book permits.
Since the war broke' out, he has'
been devotirg much time to war
work at his hom in Southern Cali-
fornia; and to' concerts at camps
where he has found^ that soldiers
are not only hungry for music but
for the best in niusic.
Heifetz' genius manifested itself
at an early' age. Already famous in
Russia as a wonder-child, he made
his Berlin debut when he was
scarcely ten years old. At the out-
break. of World War I the' boy was
touring the Scandinavian' countries.
Sho'tly before the end of the war,
his family moved to New York. Since
then Heifetz has made his perma-
nent home in this country while
making four World tours.
On the concert stage the violinist-
balahtes the classics with contem-
porary works. He has' commissioned
several of the most important pres-
ent day coiposers to write majior;
works for him; and he includes,
whenever possible, music of Ameri-
cans such as Gershwin and Robert
Russell Bennett on his programs.
He has made one motion picture,
"They Shall Have Music," which
educators throughout the country
voted the greatest single contribu-
tion to an appreciation of good mu-
sic thus far made by the screen.
Radio and recordings have brought
the art of Heifetz into homes all
over the world. Such great records
as the Beethoven Violin Concerto
under Toscanini, the Brahns Con-
certo with Koussevitsky and innu-
merable sonatas and smaller works
have established new standards of
performance in permanent form.
Eager To Talk
On any subject relating to music,
Heifetz is eager and willing to talk.
About his personal life he has never
been particularly communicative. He
always felt that his work is his
story. The seriousness and impor-
tance of music to Heifetz is best de-
scribed by Deems Taylor who wrote,
"he has reached, the point, I think,
that every great artist, creative or
interpretative, must reach; the point
wherd he has achieved such mastery
of his craft that he knows he will
never completely master it."
The pride of Heifetz in' his violin
collection is his Stradivarius which
he bought from a friend in New York.
He also has an equally valuable
Guarnerius. An aluminum instru-
ment that he used in tropical coun-
tries was donated to the war effort.
Heifetz said he was glad to give it
up in a worthy cause but it had been
a good friend to him. It had saved
wear and tear on his valuable vio-
lins and "If anything happened to
it, any plumber could fix it."
In addition to his mastery of the
violin", Heifetz is an ekaert ping
pong player and boatman.
4
y $
k . -. .. .
...PIRNIST
Called the greatest living interpreter of Beethoven music,
Artur Schnabel has a long and brilliant background as a
concert artist. Besides his genius with Beethoven, Schnabel
is well known for his mastery of Brahms, Schubert, and
Schumann. He will present the fifthChoral Union concert.
TlURSDAY, ICEMBER 3rd
Serge Joroff, Conductor
Don Cossack Chorus
CLEVELAND
SYMPHONY
ARTUR RODZINSKI,'Conductor
~oeHOFMANN
..IPIANIST
Acclaimed by Samuel Chotzinoff of the New York Post to
be the "greatest pianist of our times," Josef Hofmann is
greeted by enthusiastic audiences wherever he appears.
Acclaimed at the age of six as the greatest musical prodigy
since Mozart, he puts discipline and hard work as the
first requirement of art.
"'
_ - ,. -
The Cleveland Orchestra, now in
its
twenty fourth season is an excellent ex-
'ample of American cultural develop-
ment. Under the leadership of ARTUR
'a leder in the musical world, the Cleve-
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