New-York tribune., 1868-03-19
MUSIC.
OLE BULL.


1t is nearly fifteen years, we believe since Vlc
famous Norwegian violinist has been hearu VI H I'm
and n ouarter of a century since he made MS nrst
triumphant tour through this country showers oi SVo
dropping into his lap, throngs oi "oISmPei' 0io"ue
about him critics falling PROSTATE at ms leet ana the "
ringing with the shouts OF MS auinnoIs' III ono way
another his whole life TO have been round OF ad'
,orture and excitement Driven by his passion for
, IN out the university OF Chrstiania where be was
studying for tho church. he began bis career as an
artist at the age Of 10. One OF his first exploits
was duel in which his antagonist fellow musician
was mortaly wounded To escape the consequences OF
this affair he fed TO Paris. There he fell into poverty
robbed of everything he had even of his VIOLIN and in
his despair threw himself into the Seine This attempt
at suicide was the making OF him. Being hshed ont OF
the water forlorn condition attracted the notice OF
rich lady who hadEeceny lost her son, and who fancied
that she traced in the young vionists features ree
bance to her dead child. She took him home provided
for his wants and enabled him to make professional
tour which placed him at the high road to for
tune The applause Of the concert halls however could
not satisfy his adventurous spirit lie mas manaseu'
we believe to have share in nearly all the European
revolutions He badly wounded in the Paris msur-
recton OF 1892 figured cOnspcuously In the movements
OF February Iss then hurried to Holland where he had
some more revolutionary experience, and went back TO
Paris TO enjoy more still lie fought under the French IN
Algeria He built theater at Bergen and brought out
political dramas. which led to his arrest and nnancm1
ruin. Then following an illusirious example ne lau
down the fiddle and the bow took up the implements OF
husbandry and bought great tract OF lana IN fehn'y
vania for the purpose OF founding Norwegian agcutur
al colony This 1852 Hundreds OF ms country mon
followed him INTO the promised land, and little town
called ocana was soon built by their industry but the
experiment was disastrous failure. and the protector
was ruined for the second time Then he came to New
York took lease OF the ustinshed Academy oil Musi'
and in two months ruined again. His career since
then has been queter and trust happier lie finds on
his return TO America many Of his old admirers sui
ready TO greet him. and generation OF lovers OF
music to whom his name is 8 bright tradition. On
his tour through the West he has been received with
positive enthusiasm He greeted last night al stem
way Hall with warmth which must have been extremely
grateful and which constantly increased as The evening
wore on Thore were many doubt who mstrusted hls
abilities and were disposed 10 fear that his reputation
was built upon showy rather than solid foundation
The fear however was a vain With our recolles
ton OF Vlcuxtemps and other artists who have visited
us in latter years. still fresh, We can yet say tha
Ole Bull In many important respects IS unsurpassed
His playing will always be liked better by tue
general public than by musicians but has excelences
which the best of musicians might envy. It's principal
charm s pathos In his hands the violin has more Of
the touching quality OF a sympathetic human voice than
we haye.ever heard in IT before He executes with won
derfu breadth OF expression, with deoacy and with
power almost incredible. The music which he selects s
rarely OF the best quality; but he gives II moaning
winch nobody else could give. and has the art OF pro
| ducing great ehocts out OF very simple ma
| tcrals. In rapid passages hs execution ~
sometimes coarse; in slow movements II ~ perfcc' and
over those tours de force which best described AS y0
| lin gymnastics he has complete mastery. He played
last night The Nightingale Fantasia" and "Tho Moth
er's Prayer" both Of hs composition. aud an ar
| rangement OF "The Carnival OF Venice" He was
encored after each replied with short variations on
| popular airs two Of which. Home Sweet Home.' and
the ala e darep" from Don Giovanni, executed with
the harmony four parts his finest performances
| OF the evening lie ably assisted by Mr. O. W. Nor
| gan organist Mr.. Edward Hoffman, pianist; Mr Ioul
min harper; Mrs varian Hoffman, signor 5eycrin and
| MIR Pollak The.hall was entirely filled
| ACADEMY OF MUsIC-RoBERr lie DTABLE.
The performance of Robert le Diable drew
very large audience TO the Academy Of Music last igt
notwithstanding the strong counter attraction at ston
way Hall The opera upon the whole well DONE both
Ia Grange and Briguol surprising the expectations OF
their friends and Mr.. Herrmanns az Bersram gaining
considerable applause which in scene at all eyents
that at the close OF the second act be certainly did not
deserve His powerful voice very apt to get out OF
tune and the tho have mentioned suffered
a great deal from OF these mshaps The temptation
scene IN the abbey graveyard is inrinsicay incapable
OF being made effective but commendable effort was
apparent TO do as well the bIetto will permit The
! Elena of Miss Teresa Wood was very good