The Standard-Star/1938/10/04/Madame Wetche, musician, is dead

Succumbs in Prague

MME. LUDMILA WETCHE
(In Native Czech Costume)

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MADAME WETCHE,
MUSICIAN, IS DEAD

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Word has been received by friends here of the death, Sept. 13, in Prague, of Mme. Ludmila Vojackova Wetche, Czechoslovak pianist, accompanist and lecturer, who made her home on Franklin Avenue, this City, for many years. Mme. Wetche with her husband, Dr. Frederick C. Wetche, had returned to her native country in 1935, when Dr. Wetche was summoned to treat President Thomas G. Masaryk.

Dr. Wetche died a few years ago.

Mme. Wetche, daughter of Ladislas Vojacek, a patent attorney of Prague, was a close friend of the Masaryk family. She and Dr. Wetche passed a Summer at Lany castle with the president, when Dr. Wetche was attending him.

Daughter of musical parents, Mme. Wetche studied at the Academie de Musique in Geneva with Ysaye and Richter, at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and taught music and languages in England. Later she became professor of English in the High School for Girls, in Prague.

Her musical career began as accompanist for Maric Heritesova, violinist, at the Victor Hugo Festivals in London and Paris. Later she toured with Marie Hall, and other noted musicians and singers, including David Mannes, Victor Maurell, David Bispham, Yvonne de Treville, Helen Ware, Wilhelmi, Henrietta Wieniawski.

Concertizing in Europe, the young Bohemian pianist was the first to present the music of the American composer, MacDowell, abroad. She was chosen as accompanist for Melba’s Coronation Concert in London. In this country she appeared in native costume, presenting lectures on Czechoslovakia, its culture, arts and music, as well as in piano recitals. A New Rochellean with whom she appeared was Mme. Georgiana Oktavec.

A Czech newspaper received here, commenting upon her death, mentioned Mme. Wetche as one whose life was “consecrated to the love of her fellowman, and as an exponent of Czech music, here and abroad.”

Before her death, she requested that friends, instead of mourning her by memorial, remember her by giving support to some beneficent cause.

A brother, Dr. Jan Vojacek, a distinguished patent attorney in Prague, and a sister, Dr. Helen Vojacek, survive. The remains of Mme. Wetche were cremated.