New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-12-20
Ole Ruiz.

Our pleasure, Wednesday evening, in the perform
ance of this distinguished artist was damped ny the
cold and dull reception given him by the audience.
On his first entrance his spirits must have been
checked by the want OF The cordial reception 10
which he has been accustomed, and the same insen-
sibility was shown throughout the evening TO his
| finest strains.
Ii is NOT vanity that makes the plaudts of the
audience so necessary to performers even of un-
doubted genius. II is because they need the ASSN
ance of sympathy TO fan into fame the coal Of en-
husiasRl, and, without it, more do themselves
Justice, than one of their instruments make lis
vibrations felt if The atmosphere or shape Of the
apartment he calculated to deadeD it.
Ii seemed mex pcabie that a full audience, assem-
bled purpossly to hear Ole Bull, should not express
e transport of feeling aiier hearing the grand elo-
ouance Of the "Polacca Guerrero" nor join hearth
IL 10 encoring when few had begun on a later
occasion. But our surprise rose into indignation
when the same silence received and followed upon
the performance of his ''Niagara," which, it was
well known to the audience, had been SO iHporIanta
page in the life of his mind, while among ourselves
which we supposed they were especially assembled
10 hear, and which fully expressed the inspirations
of his peculiar genius.
We hope that this want of duo response will not
lead Ole Bull TO think that his thoughts cast
against the wind. We wish to assure him that there
were those present whose hearts vibTated TO the
I'm rapture this composition so noby expresses
and who believe they shared with him the enchant-
ments of his reverie.
For ourselves, We enjoyed all that we had hoped
from this music, having now heard Ole Bull suffi-
cently 10 understand the manner in which he takes
up subject, and 10 enter into his feeling.
But some, even of those capable of so doing, were
disappointed on this first hearing of Niagara" be-
cause il is subject on which most persons have Il
preconceived idea as TO the mode Of treatment. On
the frs, hearing they listened for their own Nj
agara rather than that of the artist The second
hearing these would enjoy as they would then fol-
low out the true leading Of the music. When "Ni-
agara is given again, and we earnestly hope twill
be given agaiu-Ihough we could not blame Ole
Bull il he thought there no heart TO answer TO
genius in q New-York audience-we could wish to
hear less of the clang of metal. Both in this and
the Polacca the effect was injured by the clash OF
the cymbals. This sound, though little Of i, an
mates martial music, always ofends the ear fmede
use of in any excess and is palry and degrading in
the nober and fuller swells of sound. Itis warke
and decisive, but not heroic.
The singing of Sanquirico afforded very agreeable
interludes. He, in his way, is an excellent per-
former. The debutan,e engaged interest from her
timidity, and has very good voice; but she will
never sing we'll if she continues that sobbng forced
manner of uttering her notes. 1t is the most oppo-
site possible to the clear and firm style of good
| singer.