TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY

THE LANCASHIRE RINGERS WOW GEELONG

The Lancashire Ringers’ first visit to Geelong was in 1863. They returned in 1866 and
gave 7 performances between the 4^th and 10^th of July. The final concert on 10^th July was a special one, being for the benefit of the St. Paul’s tower bell fund which was set up to raise the money for a peal of bells at St. Paul’s Anglican church. Two local artists also performed. One of these was a boy violinist, only 6 years old, named Frederick Molteno who was billed as “The Infant Paganini”.

The day following the first performance (Thursday, 5^th July, 1866) the Geelong Advertiser reported:

After a lengthened absence the Lancashire Bellringers made their re-appearance last evening, and received a most hearty welcome. The various pieces by the company were given with their accustomed precision and exactness. But standing prominent for effect were the variations on the “Blue Bells of Scotland ” and the arrangement of the “Royal Irish Quadrilles”. Miss Chalker’s ballad singing gave a most agreeable variety to the entertainment, and gained the marked approval of the audience. Master Molteno, 6 years of age, is a favored child of nature. Geelong has made many efforts to produce marble, coal, and gold, but has apparently at last succeeded in bringing to the light an infant Paganini, who is said to be a native of this town; every person must, therefore, go to see the wonder, and from what we heard of the little fellow’s abilities last night, they will not be disappointed. The bellringers remain with us until Saturday evening.

The Geelong Register gave the following coverage:

Thursday 5^th July:
The Lancashire Bell Ringers, yesterday evening, attracted a large audience at the Mechanics’ Institute, and certainly a more acceptable entertainment – musical in the highest degree - has rarely been given in Geelong . The music of the bells is soft, and rich in purity of tone, and the execution of the ringers somewhat astonishing in the variations. Miss Chalker sang some ballads in a very pleasing manner; and Master Molteno, the infant violinist executed some solos in a really astonishing style. Although comparatively an infant, he is nevertheless almost master of his instrument, and plays with extraordinary precision and correctness. As we before remarked, the entertainment, as a musical treat, is one of the best given here, and is well worthy of patronage.

Friday 6^th July:
The Bellringers were again successful last night in filling the Mechanics’ Hall, and enchaining the attention of the large audience with their pleasing jangling. Miss Chalker’s share in the programme included songs heard for the first time here, and they were rapturously received. Master Molteno’s violin playing was very clever, and betokens wonderful precocity of musical talent. A varied programme is announced for to-night’s entertainment.

(“Jangling” !! – a rather unfortunate choice of word, don’t you think?)

Saturday 7^th July:
The Bell Ringers, the infant Paganini, and Miss Chalker, were again successful in attracting and pleasing a large audience in the Mechanics’ Hall last night. To-day there will be two performances, one at three o’clock for the juveniles, and another at the usual hour in the evening.

Monday 9^th July:
Although there was not a large audience at the Bellringers’ entertainment on Saturday night (the afternoon performance having, no doubt, the effect of curtailing the evening attendance, the applause was more demonstrative than anything that has been witnessed in the hall of the Mechanics’ Institute for a long time. In the case of young Molteno it was particularly so. He was encored in every piece until the exactions of the audience became in sober truth more an outrage upon decency than a compliment. Once or twice there was a perfect furore of excitement, which was allayed only by his appearance to a second call, when he played some simple ballad music on the pianoforte correctly, and with much taste and precision. To-day the campanologions will give their entertainment at Bellerine, and to-morrow night they will give a performance, assisted by Miss Chalker and Master Molteno, at the Mechanics’ Institute, in aid of the bell fund of St. Paul ’s Church. In justice to Miss Chalker we should mention that on Saturday evening she sang several songs very sweetly, and with expression, and was deservedly encored.

Tuesday 10^th July:
This evening, the Bell Ringers give an entertainment at the Mechanics’ Institute for the benefit of the fund now being raised for a peal of bells at St. Paul ’s Church. Doubtless there will be a large attendance, especially as the object in view is one that will prove of so much attraction to the town.

Wednesday, 11^th July:
One of the most crowded audiences seen in the Mechanics’ Hall, assembled yesterday evening to hear the performance of the Lancashire Bell Ringers. The entertainment was given in aid of the fund now being raised for the peal of bells to be erected in St. Paul ’s Church tower, and there is little doubt but that the proceeds will add considerably to the fund. Beyond the attractions of the Bell Ringers, Miss Chalker, and the infant Paganini, Miss E. Holland (one of the members of St. Paul ’s Church choir) sang some ballads in a very tasteful manner, and was rewarded with an encore in each instance. The entertainment was in every way a most successful one.

Here is the advertisement for the final performance:

Clearly the Lancashire Ringers’ second visit to Geelong was a triumph, although it sounds like they were upstaged by young Frederick Molteno. But what of the tragedy? Sadly the Infant Paganini died seven weeks later.

The circumstances of his death are as follows:

Realising that he was a big drawcard the Lancashire Ringers engaged the boy to come with them on their tour to South Australia . The boy’s father accompanied him. When they arrived in Adelaide the boy was starting to feel unwell so his father took him to a doctor who suggested that the country air might do him good so he set off with the Lancashire ringers on their tour of country towns. He performed in a few concerts but was getting increasingly worse and for his final concert was able to play in the first half of the program only. By the time they reached Kapunda the boy was so ill that his father took him back to Adelaide where he died on 2^nd September of “low fever” (whatever that means). Frederick was not the only musical prodigy in the family. His sister Alice was a talented harpist. A few weeks after the death of Frederick Alice performed at a Grand Miscellaneous Concert in Adelaide on 1^st October, 1866 . In the press advertisement she was billed as “the Australian juvenile harpist, nine years of age, sister of the late lamented Frederick John Molteno, whose early death has caused so general a feeling of regret”.

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