The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-16
The Performances of the "Crea,ion."
JOSEPH HAYDs's "LEr THERE BIZ LIGHT. ~

4
man composer, the great Joseph HAYDN on the
| occasion OF the twenty.ifth performance of the
| maestro's great work, The Creation Ten wears
| had elapsed since the first performanceiof = The
Creation" al Vienna and alresd the sublime com.
| position had made the tour of Europe and had
| been performed amidst the most enthusiastic an
| planse in London and Paris, 10 Amsterdam and
81 PeiersburE; In Berlin, and all the large aud
To-day, the twenty fifth performance OF "The
| treauon" was to take place at Vienna and Jose oh
! Haydn himself was to be present at the concert
| Inc committee OF arrangements had invited him
| AID he accepted the invitation. Although his
seventy-seven years we're resting heavily on his
hesd, and had parsyzed his strength. he could not
Withstand the honorable request of his friends and
admirers, and be had replied, with touching
| delegates had conveyed the invitation to him: ~
shall come 20 take leave of the world with my
Creation, and bid last farewell to my fair Wen.
nese. lou will often yet sing my Oreation,' but
1 hear II for the last time ~ ri.
| 9 For the last time ~ These were the word.
which had thrilled ell the friends and admirers OF
| the mseftro, and filed them with the ardent d..
| SIZE TO greet him once more, and render him
homage for the last time. For all felt and knew
Haydn had spoken the truth, and that his end
was drawing near. All, therefore, longed to take
part in this last triumph of the composer Of The
| Creation" whom death had already touched with
| It's memorable finger.
Hence there was perfect ism in front OF the
university building AS they could not
be admitted into the hall, they remsned 10 the
street IN front Of the building as they could DOT
hear HAydn's music, they wished at least to see
bis face and cheer him on his arrival.
But there was surging crowd also in the fss-
lively decorated university hall. All hsd como 10
their holiday attire, and joy and profound emotion
beamed fry IN all faces.
And now the hour was at hand when the con-
cert was to commence The audience had taken
their seats. the orchestra ceased tuning their in
auuments, the singers we're in readiness, and the
committee Of arrangements had gone down TO the
street door to await Haydn's arrival.
he had been expected already for some time
and the audience began to whisper AnXiodsy-
VIII he, perhaps, not come. after all! Will his
physicians not permit him to go to the concert
because the excitement might be injurious to
him?n
Now the door opened and a beautiful though
strange group appeared in it, In its midst, on the
shoulders of eight strong Young men, arose al
easy chair, feslooned with flowers, and in this
chair sat the small bent form of an old man. His
face was pale and wan, and in his forehead the
seventy seven years of his life had drawn deep
burrows; but from bis large blue eyes beamed the
eternal fire OF youth, and there was something
chlldlike and touching in the smile of his mouth.
On the right eide Of his easy chair was seen the
imposing form OF gentleman, plainly dressed,
but with head full Of majestic dignity, his face
gloomy and wild, his high forehead surrounded by
dense, dlsheVeed hair. his eyes now cleaning with
sOmber hres, now CHANGING mildly aud admirably.
IL was Louis Won Beethoven "a Masonic brOtherl,
whom Haydn liked to call his pupil, and whose
fame had At that time already penetrated far be-
yOnd the frontiers of Austria. On the left side Of
the easy chair was seen the fine, expressive face
Of Salieri, who liked to call himself Giuck's pupil;
aud side by side with these two walked Kreutzer
and Clement and the other members of the com
mitiee Of arrangements.
laundering cheers greeted their appearance;
the whole audience rose. In effect the
exuItsuon Of the audience increased at every step
which the procession advanced.
Here two beautiful ladies Of high rank csms to
meet him, and presented 20 him. on the cushions Of
gold embroidered velvet, poems written by Csilin
and Carpani, and printed on silk ribbons. At the
same time, many hundred copies of these poems
fitted through the hail. and all shouted joyOusly:
Long live Joseph Haydn. the German maestro!"
Joseph Haydn, quite overcome, his eyes filed
with tears, leaned his head against the back OF his
chair. mortal pallor overspread hs cheeks
aud his hands trembled as though he had the
fever.
Maestro, dear, dear Maestro a" said the Prin.
cess EsterhaZy, bending over him tenderly. 4" are
you unwel? You tremble, and are 50 pale Are
you unSeli"
Oh, no. no, ;" said Haydn with a gentle smile,
" my soul is in ecstacies at this hour, which i, a
precious reward for q long life of arduOus toll.
Nv soul is in ecstaces but IL lives in such a weak
sbaTe with the kiess n bf fsp1sev the soul is all
whole warmth has entered it, and the poor mortal
shell is cold and trembling"
The Princess Esterhazy took impetuOusly from
her shoulders the costly Turkish shawl in which
her form was envelOped; she spread it out before
Haydn and wrapped it carefully around his feet.
Her example was followed Immediately by the
Processes Lichtenstein and Kinsky, and the Count
esses haunItz and Spielmann. They dotted their
beautiful ermns furs, and their Turkish and Per-
sian shauls. and wrapped them around the old
composer, and Transformed them into cushions,
which they placed under his head and his arms,
and blankets with which they covered him.
Haydn allowed them smilngly to do so. and
Nlav bad nil oil nfI nU nj tha ha
tful ladies who manifested so much tender solici
tuoe for him.
"wby can 1 not die nowE' he said TO himself,
in low voice. why does not Death kiss my
lips 1T this glorious hour OF my triumph Oh,
come, Death watt me blissfully into the other
world for in this world | em useless hencefOrth;
my strength is gone and my head has no more
ideas. ! live only in and on the past!'
And yet you live for al time TO come" said
the Princess Estherhazy, enthusiastically, and
while German art and German music are loved
and bonoIed, Joseph Haydn will never die and
never be forgotten"
flushed now was every sound. Salisri had
taken bis seat as conductor Of the concert, and
signed now to the orchestra.
The audience listened in breathless silence to
the tumultuous notes depicting in so mastery
manner the struggle eff light and darkness; the
chaos OF the elements becomes more and more
furious and the music depicts il in Der, viO-
lent notes when suddenly the horizon bdghtsns,
the clouds rent, the dssOnant sounds pass into
y
bissful eIultation resound through the strug
Cling universe the grand, redeeming words, Let
there be ligttin And all joined in the r4pturous
chorus aud repeat in blsstul concord " Let there
be light !"
HAYDN took no notice OF it be heard crly his
music; his soul was entirely absorbed in it. aud
lifting both his arms TO heaven, he said deVoutly
snd humbIy, d" 1t comes from sboVer'
The audience had hesred the load aud enthusi.
astic words; it spplAuded no longer, but looked
! m revereDt silence towards the aged composer,
Who in the midst OF bis most glorious triumph rem
| dered honor 10 God alone, aud bowed modestly TO
| the work OF his own genius.
The performance proceeded Bat Joseph Hsiyn
| hardly heard mucn of the music. His head leaned
against the back of the chair, his face, lit BY
biissfu SMILE was deAthly pale; his eyes cast fer
! vent chances OF gratitude toward heaven. and
seemed, in their scstatic gaze, 20 see the "hois
| heavens opened.
Maestro" said the Princess Estsrhssy, when
the first part Of she performance was ended, you
| most no longer remain here, bat return 20 yonr
! quiet home"
Yea, ] shall return TO the qaiet home which
awaits Us all, ," said Haydn, mildly, and feel
| rensbly that shall remAin no longer among men.