MR. ANDRE SKALSKI.

GIFTED POLISH PIANIST.

Mr. Andre Skalski, the young Polish pianist, was a passenger from Sydney by the Makura yesterday. Born in Warsaw, Andre Skalski is 26 years of age, and is said to be the youngest pianist conductor in the world. After a successful debut in Germany, he conducted grand opera in the Ducal Theatre at Sondershausen. He has travelled through Siberia, China, Japan, Korea, Java, and Australia, and, after his present visit to New Zealand will return to Sydney. He will give recitals at the chief cities of the Dominion, and one phase of his programme that will doubtless appeal to many is a matinee of music written solely for children.

Source: New Zealand Herald (Auckland), 3 April 1923, Page 6.

WOMAN'S WORLD.

A reception was held at Cargen on Friday evening in honour of the celebrated Polish pianist, Andre Skalski, who is at present visiting Auckland. The rooms were prettily decorated with a quantity of lovely flowers and palms and pot-plants lined the corridors. Supper was served in one of the ante-rooms, where on the table under softly shaded lights, scarlet dahlias were arranged with charming effect. The guests on arrival were received by Mrs. Coralie Stanley McKellar, and presented to Monsieur Andre Skalski. A pleasant time was spent chatting in the lounge, and afterwards the guests danced in the ballroom to excellent music contributed by a stringed orchestra.

Source: New Zealand Herald (Auckland), 113 April 1923, Page 18.

WOMAN'S CORNER.

Mr Andre Skalski, the Polish pianist, who has been giving piano recitals in Wellington is expected to arrive here on Tuesday next. Mrs Coralie Stanley McKellar, the well-known Sydney journalist, is in charge of his publicity work.

Source: The Press (Christchurch), 28 April 1923, Page 2.

A VISITING ARTISTE.

RECEPTION TO ANDRE SKALSKI.

About a hundred people gathered in Mr Charles Gray's rooms on Saturday for an informal reception to Mr Andre Skalski the distinguished Polish musician, who is at present staying in Invercargill. The reception was hastily arranged but the large and representative gathering was a tribute to the interest occasioned by his visit. Mr Skalski has toured widely and his achievements in Australia alone have been enough to fix his importance in the musical world, as well to promise a great deal for the future.

Mr Skalski, and his manager, Mrs Coralie Stanley McKellar, were loudly applauded when they entered. Mr Gray briefly spoke in extending to the visitors a hearty welcome to Invercargill. Mr Skalski, he said, came to this part of the Dominion with a great reputation and his visit was doubly important because the southern towns were so often neglected by great artistes. He was gratified at the magnitude and the representative nature of the gathering, which would show Mr Skalski that though Invercargill was in the south and was neglected there was a warm interest in music. He was also pleased to be able to welcome Mrs McKellar who was returning to Invercargill, which she had known in her girlhood. Mrs McKellar had distinguished herself in journalism and they were greatful that she had included Invercargill in Mr Skalski’s itinerary.

Sir Joseph Ward shortly referred to the distinguished reputation enjoyed by Mr Skalski. Some years ago he had spoken to a very famous countryman of their guest who had advised him to keep an eye on a young man called Skalski, who was going to make a great name in the world, and then was one of the most remarkable of European musicians. It had been suggested that New Zealand could not support a conservatorium where New South Wales had not been entirely satisfactory, but he could assure Mr Skalski that New Zealand could do more than New South Wales in such matters and he believed that a conservatorium would be supported in this country so well that it would be hugely successful. If it were established he thought they should make an effort to induce Mr Skalski to become its leader. He hoped that Mr Skalski would seize the opportunity his stay in Invercargill presented to see the beauty spots of Southland, particularly Stewart Island, where he would see Nature at her best, and enjoy the beauties which were distinct from any which the rest of New Zealand could offer him. It was a pleasure to be able to welcome an Invercargillite, and particularly one who had so distinguished herself.

Mr J. J. Pollard also spoke briefly endorsing the remarks of the previous speakers.

On rising to respond, Mr Skalski was warmly applauded. He said that he was grateful to Mr Gray for the kindly thought that had prompted him to arrange the reception in honour of himself and Mrs McKellar. During his tour in the Dominion he had been struck by the keen interest displayed in music and friendliness of the audiences. It was generally thought that artistes did most for the advancement of music, but he could assure them that it was the steady cultural work being done by the teachers which was largely responsible because it created an intelligent interest in music and laid the foundation for the future. It had been said that he was a linguist with a knowledge of eight languages. English was the eighth he had acquired, but he hoped that if those who had kindly welcomed him that night would hear him play he would be able to speak to them in a language which they would understand far better than they could his efforts to speak to them in their own tongue. He had enjoyed his stay in Invercargill, and he hoped to be able to repay some of the kindness that had been shown him while he was here.

Mrs McKellar, in a witty speech, dealt with her own association with Mr Skalski and her career. She remarked that she had attended the Park School when she was a little girl and she had had as a chum Miss Madeline Vyner. She had then been ambitious to become a great pianist, but while she had failed in that — at least Mr Skalski said she could not play — she had had the honour of bringing to Invercargill a pianist who was one of the greatest in the world. Mr Hain had been her teacher when she was at the Park School and he it was who had turned her attention in the direction of journalism, so that he was responsible for Mr Skalski’s visit.

After several gramophones, including the quartette from "Rigoletto," Liszt’s transcription of which Mr Skalski is to play in Invercargill, supper was served and the party became enjoyably informal. At a late hour Sir Joseph Ward, before the guests departed, briefly thanked Mr Gray for the opportunity he had given them of meeting two such distinguished and delightful visitors, one of whom was really returning to the scene of her girlhood's days, cheers were given for the guests of the evening, for Mr Gray and for those who had assisted in making the evening a success. A delightful evening was then brought to a close with the singing of the National Anthem.

Source: Southland Times (Invercargill), 28 May 1923, Page 6.

Note - Sir Joseph Ward was a prosperous Southland merchant who entered Parliament in 1887 and was Prime Minister of NZ from 1906-1912 and 1928-1930.

Source: New Zealand Herald (Auckland), 4 April 1923, Page 14 Advertisements.