Maritza Seller, celebrated European harpist coming to the Orient this season under the direction of the French Concert Guild, will make a Tesearch of native music in each country she visits in quest of new material for her programmes. She will give a recital in Shanghai early xt month, conditions permitting.
She was born August 25, 1905, daughter of Michel Seller, professor of geology at the Sorbone University Paris, She began her study of the harp with Marcel Grandjany at Fontainebleau Conservatory. Then wed three years of coaching under Henriette Renie, French harpist and composer. Her training was further rounded out by four years of schooling with Carlos Salzedo, distinguished harp virtuoso.
Maritza made her Paris debut in 1928 and won the unanimous pra of the French critics, to whom the harp is the queen of all musical instruments, She scored another triumph at her frst London recital the next year. From 1930 to 1936 she made brilliant tours in Europe and the United States, climaxed by a series of concerts as assisting artiste with Rosa Ponselle and Giov Martinelli of the Metropolitan Opera Company. of New York At each concert she uses two different harps, insured jointly with Lloyds of London for £5,000. Her large harp, the "Empress Josephine", was presented to her at Fontaineblea by Mrs. Frederick Vanderbilt, wealthy American patron of music. Her small Irish harp, made in Dublin in the early eighteenth century, is from the original Sir Thomas Lipton collection.
Maritza carries an elaborate wardrobe of latest Parisian evening gowns, created for her by Paton. Lelong and Schiaparelli. She makes seve: changes of costume during gramme.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.