WHAT'S ON

London, England

Week Ending 22 October 1910

(page 4)

"THE RITES OF ELEUSIS."

Miss LEILA WADDELL,

Violinist at “The Rites of Eleusis” ceremonies.

In our new paragraph in last week’s issue on the “Rites of Eleusis,” we in course of same mentioned that the “ideas suggested would be translated into music by an accomplished violinist.” As several of our readers have written asking who the violinist is, the following particulars will not be out of place.

Miss Leila Waddell, whose playing will be quite a feature of the ceremonies, is a well-known Australian violinist. By the courtesy of the Editor of the Equinox we are enabled to publish her portrait on this page in the costume she will wear on Wednesday next. She is at present studying in London under Mr. Sauret. Miss Waddell tells an interesting story of the way she learnt to play, and how she had to start afresh when she had acquired quite a repertoire. She was born in an up-country town, where music was at a discount. One day the local barber disclosed himself to her father as a violin player who desired to give lessons. Mr. Waddell said he would allow one of his daughters to learn. She learnt easily, and soon had at her fingers’ ends pieces and exercises simple and difficult. After two years the barber died. In his stead a stranger came to the town, and she was transferred to the new virtuoso. For a time all went well; then suddenly during one lesson he said: “You should play C sharp not C natural.” The promising pupil could not comply. It was then discovered that she knew not a note of music. She had learnt “like a parrot,” so to speak. She had observed the barber closely and copied him, watching his fingers and imitating the sounds by ear. The new virtuous took her right back to the beginning, and with good results. Still, nothing seems to happen in vain, for Miss Waddell finds her early experiences of great value in her latest rôle. She is to play in the “Rites of Eleusis,” at Caxton Hall, for the most part in darkness, so that her early habit of memorizing and fingering by instinct will prove to be of great value. Those who have heard her play in such mystic ceremonies say that her natural genius is subtly enhanced and refined, and the effect produced is peculiarly interesting to all lovers of music.