Scan 53
Celebrated violinists, past and present; ("The Strad" library), 1897
8 lines. Read by computer on 18 September 2026. Printed page 41. See the scan on archive.org.
1his seat calling out in a loud tone "Aye! indeed you are predestinated to become a violinist—so much so that for you the violin must have been invented had it not already existed!" This was enough for the father, and in consequence young Wilhelmj was taken a few days later to Leipzig by Liszt himself, who on introducing him to Ferdinand David, said "Let me present to you a future Paganini—look well to him!" From that date until 1864 Wilhelmj was a pupil of the great teacher, learning the theory of music from Richter and Hauptmann the while. Perhaps the greatest triumph of his early days was when David considered him fully equipped to play the immortal Hungarian Concerto of Joachim at the public examination at the Leipzig Conservatorium—an event which was called his "first début."
3After his return home Wilhelmj had some instruction from Joachim Raff in the theory of music. In the autumn of 1865 he undertook his first concert tour through Switzerland, proceeding thence through Holland to England. It was not, however, until 1875 that he made his first appearance at the Philharmonic Concerts here, and in the meanwhile he travelled far and wide. In 1876 he led the orchestra at the first of the Wagner Festivals at Bayreuth, and took the post of leader of the orchestra at the famous Wagner Concerts at the Albert Hall in London in 1877. After recovering from a severe illness Wilhelmj visited Italy in 1878, and later made a tour of the world which lasted until 1882 and extended through Australia, America and Asia. Hethen remained some time in Russia and for years the newspapers continued to publish long accounts of his performances.
5On returning to Germany he went to live at Biberich where he founded a school for violin-playing, which, however, he has long since abandoned. From time to time he played in public, ultimately, however, withdrawing to Blasewitz, near Dresden, where he lived in retirement.
7Wilhelmj now lives in London where he has established a highly successful academy for violin playing.
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