New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-04-04
LOUIS M. GOTTSCHALK.

lISJHALk.
whole surrounding neighborhood flocked to con- /
tribute to assist in carrying out the noble
thought of their beloved Virtuoso, and such was L
the receipt of that concert that with its proceeds
the hospital was erected and the authorities or
dered it to be named after him, and that in |
Chapel on Sundays.
Before leaving Geneva, our young and emf |
nent countryman received several valuable pres
ents in diamonds, from her Imperial Highness,
the Grand Duchess of Russia, and such was her |
repeated liberality, that it embarrassed Colts |
chalk, and he requested Baron de Bach to ask |
of her Highness to desist from showering her
gifts upon him, for it would prevent him from
paying his court to her, as she might think his |
visits interested. To which her Imperial High
ness replied, that she appreciated the deEcacy
of his feelings, and since he refused the material
tokens of her friendship, she would prove her
esteem to him by asking him to dine with her
an honor unprecedented, as any who knows the
strict etiquette Of the court of Russia can tes-
tify He sat between the Grand Duchess and
the Vice Queen of Poland, who We'd with each
other in attentions during the repast, after
which, descending to the parlor, he performed
for them several pieces, when the Grand Duchess
placed a crown on his head.
From Geneva, Gottschalk went to Lausane,
where his success was equal to that Of Geneva,
and after reaping harvest of laurels there, he
made the tour of Switzerland. and was every
where rapturously received.
At this epoch, her Majesty, the Queen of Sar-
dinia, who was only passing through Geneva,
| wished to see the celebrated pianist, and re-
ceived him into her intimacy, and took great
pleasure in conversing with him on music and
! the fine arts in general Our readers will not
| be astonished at this fact, when consider the
varied literary knowledge our esteemed country
man possesses, the brilliancy of his conversation
and the amable manners he unites to all his
other accomplishments.
The regning Grand Duchess of SAKE Weymar,
testified her admiration and esteem for Colts
chalk, on more than one occasion. The heredi-
tary Prince of Prussia, showed his esteem for our
eminent artist, by admitting him frequently to
his intimacy and table
Gottschalk, enchanted with the country of
Tell, would fain have fingered longer in that
hOspitable land but the Queen of Spain had
invited him to her court, and impatient at his
apparent indifference, now summoned him, un-
der pain of her displeasure, to hasten to the
country Of the fandago and serenade He quit
ted Switzerland with regret, retraced his steps
to Paris, and shortly after took hs departure.
Before we follow him in his travels we must not
omit to transeribe the opinions of the Paris
critics, prior to his departure for Switzerland
Hector Berlios, the celebrated artist and
critic, said of him. in the JOufndi des Debats,
OF Paris:
GorrscHAIK THE PnNIsr-Twenty years ago they said
whodnes not play little on the Piano? Now the ques
tionis, who does not play the Pano very wei It Is
cnssary then, for to be yertahle rtoo pianist to
draw to hmaef in these days the attention of public
like thst Of Paris 10 please 1t and charm it. to and
etrphce his audience after he has attracted it, 1t is ahso
ueB necessary that he should unite musical qualities
unusual ard elevated intelligence. an exquisite
subtitle feeling for style and expression and cunning
de%tery ~ mechanism approaching almost to the
dgeus. If he had but the last qualification, he
ishes but for the moment if the contrary, he pos
ssss the other merits only he ranked in the category
OF the pos who loved but by the initiated few but
have not the to excite large audiences by perform
ance Of so studied character Gottscbak is of the
verytew who possesses all the divers elements Of the
erein of the pianist all the faculties which
round him with prestige quite irresistible; he is
com pshed and profound musician he knows the limit
beyond which liberties taken with the rhythm lead only
disorder and confusion and this limit he never over
steps There is perfect grace in his of sweetly
Ihrasing his melodies and dartng with light passages
the high regions Of the instrument with slight OF
hand an impetuosity elparness fire and originality.
whcil strike at once dazzling astonishing The
childish naieee of his smiling eaprces the charming sim
pcy with which he renders his bewitching Inspirations
seem TO belong 10 second Individuality distinct from
that which charaeterizes his Illuminating energy
1t therefore that the success Of Gottchak when he
il in presence of audience muscaly intelligent, il truly
mu At the which he gave during the past
month at The Hall Bonne NouVeIle the greater part Of
his pieces were encorcd and this ovation far from
ing Is mpaticpt feeling created in profound
emotion much did it appear to well deserved In
deed Gotsehak mtrited higher eulogum on that occa
sion than have yet given him he executed in the
majestic style Beethovens Sonata in La oi which the
style and form differ materially from the usual style and
form OF ordinary piano music 1t Is impossible to sing
the fdae better to give relief to the thousand
aabequc variations or to unrvel more clearly the laby
rntlne mazes OF the finale without losing any Of its
tinuM aud gddy ardor Gottschalk born in Louisi-
ana, from whence he has brought with him imagna
ton impetucus, and at the time impregnaed with
the soft poetry and melancholy OF the tropical cimes
Every body in Europe knows now the BoBbouLG the Ba
'riier, the Mncenih. the sardne and twenty other in
genuus fantasies the warmth and wdness of whose mel
odes u SO sweety our nquieude and Unsuitable passion
for novelty The young pianist is at this moment in the
peuitude of his talent and enjoys immense celebrity
justly acquired celebrated indeed, that he will be
able to the Atlantic, and give the lie to the old
French proyerb that "no one is prophet in his own
| prophee.n
The celebrated writer, Theophile Gautier,
said Of him in La PreSSe, a Paris journal:
"Ia 1850 of the best French writers and critics.
Theophle Gautier writes thus Originality with good
taste and little eccentrcty without charlaanism have
appeared to TO be delightful qualities in artist
Of true talent therefore gave myself up entirely
feeling of admiration and sympathy when listened to
dottchak ut h last concert OF our present great plan
lists there but few who have created for themselves
undoubted individuality Lisz, Prudent and Thalberg
the standards which the public selects wherewith
measure the worth of each aspirant to similar ex
ceience it may, therefore, be imagined how difficult il
must be for artist to leave the beaten track of
follower and place himself alongside abreast of thu
great masters. If Gotschk. young he is has dom
this has secured an Individuality which has escaped
many because alter having perfected his talent b.
severe study he let's it wander at random throug
the syannas OF his native land while he gives US the
ieious perfumes and radiant colors of its flowers
music in everything else the greatest charm novelty
and we are much delighted with the casket of gem
presented US by the young American vrtuo as We once
were with the songs OF the muezzn and the reYeries
meath the palms which Ernest Reyers and Feean payu
have made celebrated throughout their Souvenirs OF ne
East Whatever may be the brilliant TRAITS aha
fu difficulties overcome which mark Gottschsk eAecu
tion, to them the melody is never hscrin -
ia the ascendant If gently ls You In the safae snd
the Arne,a;r il Is still with yoa In the Baboul when
the dancing girl with smbour and oymba excite emo
mons heyond our control All these songs of the New
originality which Is tu ol melancholy