The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1912)

Edison Phonograph Monthly, March, 1912 11 Edison Record Talent Paulo Gruppe 'Cellist. If a talented and artistic family has any influence upon the ability of a young artist, Paulo Gruppe is surely fortunate beyond measure. His father, Charles P. Gruppe, is one of Holland's best known artists and it is predicted that his pictures will in time command fabulous prices. His mother is a remarkably gifted actress, a younger brother is a sculptor, and still another brother is developing into a pianist of such marked ability as to gain prominence in musical circles. There can be small wonder then that Paulo Gruppe has been the recipient of lavish praise and compliments without number, at the hands of the leading English and Continental critics. Their opinions have been universally echoed by the critics on this side of the water, who have followed with interest the overwhelming triumphs won by this already famous young 'cellist in his recent American recitals. Coldly critical Boston compared him with Fritz Giese, Anton Hekking, Josef Adamowski and Carl Barth — and he underwent the ordeal unscathed. Chicago heard him as soloist with the Thomas Orchestra, and pronounced him possessed of a "spontaneous art that speaks naturally and fluently. It is based not upon technical supremacy, but upon natural musical gifts. The technical mastery is purely incidental — yet it is entirely complete." St. Louis, referring to his performance of the extremely hazardous Saint-Saens concerto said: "Young Gruppe, happily blessed with rich native gifts and trained in an atmosphere of sincere art, has proved his inherent possession of the inspiration necessary to a worthy performance of this splendid work, and in so doing has conferred a memorable joy upon his first St. Louis audience." In New York Gruppe appeared at Carnegie Hall with the Russian Symphony Society, and astonished his audience by his amazing technic and the extent and difficulty of his repertoire. After demanding many encores, the audience and critics corroborated the judgment of Boston in placing Gruppe among the leading 'cellists of the times. And so it goes. To hear is to praise, for the young Dutch artist is not only a technical genius, but he has a wonderful temperament for one of his age, and his playing is always marked by the strength and enthusiasm of youth. The beauty of his tone production is only limited by the quality of his instrument — than which there is none better. Stella Mayhew-Billie Taylor This great vaudeville pair has probably been responsible for more apoplexy in the United States than have any of the supposed causes of this affliction. Their appearance on any stage is always the signal for shouts of laughter. Their combined efforts are unusually mirth-provoking and entertaining because of the fact that Billie Taylor is an exceptionally clever writer of songs and "sketches." And he can always exert his powers to their utmost with the sure knowledge that his clever partner will do his work full justice in her performances. In "The Jolly Bachelors" these two fun makers were foremost in a strong cast of well-known stars, and at the New York Winter Garden the season of 1911-1912 has seen them repeat their triumphs of other seasons. The Winter Garden was the feature of New York's amusement places this year, and it is no mean distinction to have won universal recognition in competition with the best artists and most sensational drawing cards that accomplished press-agents could produce, and money could secure.