The most recent star of Europe is Madame Saenger-Sethe, whose appearances are invariably followed by eulogies from the critics.  In Berlin, when she appeared at the Singakademie, in November, 1898, where she was assisted by the Philharmonic Orchestra, one critic declared that no violin playing had been heard to compare with it during that season, with the exception of Burmester’s performance of the Beethoven concerto.  “Such wealth and sensuous beauty of tone, such certainty of technique, such mental grasp of the work, and at the same time such all-conquering temperament have not been heard in Berlin at the hands of a female violinist during several years.”  After many recalls, she gave, as an encore, a rousing performance of a Bach sarabande.

Mlle. Irma Sethe was born on April 28, 1876, at Brussels, and such was her early aptitude for music that at the age of five she was placed under a violinist of repute, named Jokisch, who in three months from the start taught her to play a Mozart sonata.  Five years of hard study enabled her to appear at a concert at Marchiennes, when she played a concerto by De Beriot and the rondo capriccioso by Saint-Saens.  The following year she played at Aix-la-Chapelle, and made such an impression that several offers of concert engagements were made, but were declined by her mother on the score of the child’s health, and for three years after this she never appeared at a concert.

One summer, during the holidays, she met August Wilhelmj, who was charmed with her talent, and devoted his mornings for two months to giving her lessons daily.  At the end of that time he emphasised his appreciation by making her a present of a valuable violin.  She still continued her regular studies with Jokisch, until, acting on the advice of her friends, she obtained a hearing from Ysaye, and played for him Bach’s prelude and fugue in G minor.

Ysaye at once recognised her immense ability, and advised her to enter the conservatoire at Brussels, which she did, with the result that in eight months she carried off the first prize, being then only fifteen years of age.  She continued her studies for three more years, and was frequently employed as a substitute for Ysaye, as professor, to teach his classes while he was absent on concert tours.

In 1894 she appeared with him at a number of important concerts, and shortly afterwards made her first concert tour, visiting many of the principal towns of Germany.  In November, 1895, she made her first appearance in London, where she was pronounced to be, with the exception of Lady Halle, the most remarkable lady violinist who had ever appeared before the public in England, and where her excellent technique, perfect intonation, warmth of feeling, and musical insight were highly, almost extravagantly, praised.

In August, 1898, Mlle. Sethe married Doctor Saenger, a litterateur, and professor of philosophy at Berlin, but she continues her career as a violinist, and has made several tours of Europe.  She has been compared to Rubinstein, inasmuch as her remarkable musical temperament and irresistible impulsiveness carry her at times almost beyond the limits of her instrument, but these are the very qualities by which she captivates and carries away her hearers.