The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-11-27
Ole BuII-His first Appearance.


Chevalier Ole Bulls first appearance in the new
world took place on Saturday night, before one of
the most crowded and fashionable audiences ever
collected in the PARK Theatre. Great as was the
tarore excited once by the arrival of Malibran, and
lattery by that of Elsser it was he;night before
last transcribed. Burst after burst of applause fol-
lowed IN quick succession, and the enthusiasm Of
the audience would scarcely have been exceeded
at Saint Carlos in Naples, in Vienna, or at La
Scala in Milan. The artist himself seemed to catch
the excitement, and we venture to say, never did
greater justice to his theme and his instrument
Saturday night is usually an unfavorable one for
concerts and other public amusements, and we
may therefore imagine from the crowd of the first
night what may be expected at the next two con-
certs, which will take place on Wednesday and on
Friday next.
The selection of music was doubtless carefully
made In the second piece, II cor non pim mi semto
the diminaemdo and acscemdo surpassed everything
we had conceived of-and notes flowed from the
violin which We had conceived it incapable of ut
tering. The unearthly, fairy-like sounds he
drew from his in strument, seemed to lull the
house like magic spell-like the soft tones from
another world, breaking upon earth at last. The
Polacca was brilliant and stirring, and the wild
character of the music gave full scope to the artists
energy and power. The curtain fell with thun-
der Of applause from pit, boxes and orchestra, I'M
equalled in our memory any where-eithcr in Eu-
rope or America
The instrument on which Ole Bull PLAYED is a
curious musical relic in itself. During the early
part of the 10Th century violin was made by the
famed Gasparo Lisarde, for Cardinal Aldobandini,
IN his best style the head was designed and carved
in the most beautiful manner by Benvenuto Cellini
with mythic figures representing the musical goddess
and her attendants the fret-board and sounding
board are beautifully inlaid in mosaic of pearl and
ebony This instrument was sold by the heirs of
the Cardinal to person who carried it to Inspruch,
and at the taking Of that city by the French army
In 1909, 1t became part of the booty of dragon,
by whom it was sold to Fdnatico per la n,usica, in
Vienna, who could not be induced to part with it,
though incredible sums had been offered for it,
Chevaiier Bull, being some few years ago in Vienna,
wished to purchase It, but was as unsuccessful as
others had been; finally, however, its possessor
promised that if he would give fifteen concerts in
that city he should have the pre-empton of the violin
wishes, and the proprietor dying soon after, be-
queathed the instrument to him to whom it should
belong. On this violin the principal part of the
Saturday nights entertainments were executed.
4>o dIuSt ever appeared before the American pub
lie with such favorable prestiges. Young graceful
accomplished beyond the mere bounds of his art,
and, moreover, an enthusiastic partisan of liberty
and free institutions and son of the freest people in
Europe, we foresee that his passage through the
land will be one OF continual triumph. Yet he has
been the tavorte of monarchs. Ole Bull, in the
theatres OF Europe, wears the glittering cross of
Gustaf Wasa, of which order he was made Cheva-
her by Bernadotte, the reigning King of Sweden.
The millions of glorious republican sovereigns of
this mighty land have no golden crosses or diamond
breastplates to bestow, but they have hearts, souls
enthusiasm, feelings, and, above all, the Gal
mighty dollar" which they will lavish upon genius
and originality of every kind as much as the mo-
narchs of Europe. Ole Bull defies criticism Pa
ganlnl Is gone, and all comparison between the two
is therefore futile; yet though the great Italians
only rival, none seems to venerate his genius more
highly than Ole Bull, who, in kind of religious re-
spect, never trespasses upon those pecuiarities
which were his invention, and became his peculiar
domain. The Chevalier's peculiar power lies in
his earnestness in his deep northern ntensity-in
his faculty OF carrying away the hearts of hearers
In manner that no artist has done before. Even
Paganni astonished more than he delighted; and
Slvory, whom we heard last summer in Europe
and who Is the first among the French artists we
listen TO with wonder, and are satisfied, but feel
no enthusiasm.
The next Concert will take place on Wednesday
evening, the pr ogramme of which is
L. Cantablle Doloroso and Rondo Giocoso CON-
posed by Ole Bull
2 Quartetto per Violino Solo, composed by Ole
B. Adazio from Mozart in quartetto
A. Fantasia and Bravoure Variazoni, from themes
OF Belllnl, composed by Ole Bull.