Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-07-26
Then he Played at Copenhagen. And in Co

penhagen he made his first acquaintance with
a very singular personage-no other than the
world famous Jenny Lind. Like himself,
Jenny WIS beginning life (; though with pros
poets by no means so fair as lis own. The
manner Of their meeting was as follows -
n One the evening before one of his concerts,
| the director OF The opera called upon the
!. young lion and informed him that there was a
! girl in the city who had small situation in
\ his establishment about two years ago, and
who then seemed to have promise of a very
unique and extraordinary voice. But this girl
had lost her voice almost entirely, and in con
sequence, her situation also She had gone
to Paris thercupon, and had been in Garcia's
hands for two years. She had come back :,
and last night he heard her s'ng very nicely
lie had no pace for her in his opera, but she
might DO something in his concerts. Jenny
Lind made he. first appearance in his concert
that night. She continued to assist his con-
certs during the lime he remained in Copen-
hagen When she sang, PEOPLE would say,
Why, this Jenny has very nice voice.
but no one dreamed that the pale gill they
saw was 10 become the " bright AMI morning
star" in the musical heavens OF this nineteenth
century
After these days, s,rakosch turned his steps
to Italy. Here the restless pianist was kept
still for some six months by the composition
Of his celebrated opera on Byron's Sardanapa.
uS--as yet his longest and best sustained ef-
fort.
This finished, he dar,ed off to the North
again, and played at ST. Petersburg. About
this time the Princess Olga had given indira.
tions Of capacity to do something besides
dress and tyrannze over waiting lsdes-for
which alone such people are ordinarily fitted.
She evinced talent for music Thalberg,
then Lstz's only acknow edged equal, had
been summoned to the Russian court to advise
upon hcr musical education. Here for the
first time, he heard young Strakosch. He
pronounced him at once his fellow, and as
vel fitted 10 superintend the Emperor's
daughter rs himself. Whelelpon the Pm
cess Olga was delivered over to her young
countryman. What he made of her We have
not heard. But his performances in ST. Pet
ersburg quickly gained for him the post Of
pianis' to the Emperor Of Russia. Many 9th
er titles and m ny thousand roubIes were for
year and haf showered upon him in the
city Of the Cars. But the organ Of inhabil
iveness seems 10 have been sorely wanting
in the Uranium OF this wonderful artist. lie
is never satisfied in one place day and half;
aud neither riches nor honor, neither the
Princess Olga nor the Emperor Nicholas
could hold him longer than year and half
in ST. Petersburg. He packed up his piano
one fine day and was off to Paris. After set
ting that inhammablc city on fire he went
again 10 Italy. lie gave no less than two
hundred and eighty concerts, during this his
second sojourn in that land Of flowers and
in the chief OF them was assisted by Rubini
and Pasta. Nicholas came TO Italy too in
those days. !, was his famous visit to the
Pope. The Gar of the Cossacks and the
Car Of the piano meet again, and the offers
of the former to win back the latter were as
liberal as e er were those Of Herod to Hero
dlas. But S,rakosch would not . hearken TO
! he voice Of his charmer charm he ever SO
wisely" The " Pianis; to the Emperor Of
~ i.S ol.c''
France, for England, and America F; but new
or aeain did his love Of travelling carry him to
Petersburg.
We recollect having somewhere seen two
anecdotes Of his Italian acquaintances, which
arc worth relating One is of that consum.
mate beast, the King of Naples. This wor.
thy, as is well known, was never able to com.
prehcnd any nearer approach to a cavatiDa
than fl of swearing and never able TO com
pIeh nd concert on any instrument save the 1
kettle drum. After much persuasion and some
he was induced to attend The Pi-
anSt's performance. lie listened attentively
Tor few minutes and then broke out, All, /
vel Very good, this Strakosch. lie beats
lceH! ~ Il
The other is Of ROs ma. The Gillaume
Tell man came TO hear him. My young
ricnd, said he, "yOu play magnifcenty
mt you have no left hand' Strakosch wa.
'urpris d. lie sat down and executed piece
Of inconccivable difficulty, with his left hand
,lone. " Mr.. Strako.ch," said the composer
: must repeat, you have no left hand Jut
Jou hare t,ro rights > \,
Slrakosch went TO Spain and played his p-
no a great deal to the Queen-nuch to her
Ielght it appears, but much 10 the annoy S
nc" of the prime minister. The latter used
o go to sleep during his long sonatas. lie c
hen went to France, and va. in Paris during Z
he tremendous scenes of last February - $
'revously he resided for two months with I
.amaitnc al Macon. Lamartine was accus- :
omed to introduce him at his soirces az
Russian, and therefore no democrat-but a