New Orleans Republican., 1873-02-09
The Rubinstein Matinee.

| mo i"9' niat'uee, s0-cailed, OF the Rubin
stein -Wieniawski troupe came off Yesterday
afternoon at the Opera House.
There was on excellent attendance, and
| the programme as choice as could have
| been wished.
Mr. Rubinstein stepped upon the plat
| form little before three o'clock. and after
making the most awkward bow imaginable
(said genudexion, as usual, necessitatipg o
the Encouragement of his brownish hair).
proceeded to eeat himself in as ungraceful
pose as possible. and without further ado
commenced mssterly execution of pre-
!udeS ct fugues by Bach.
A young lady seated in one of the par
quette chairs. after witnessing for while
the exhibition of amazing power so fre-
quently brought into play without seem
ing fort by Rubinsteln, quietly suggt sted
to a companion at her side that, perhaps,
like Sampson, the secret of the great
strength in his fingers lay in his hair, AMI
hence the reason. perhaps, why those won
derful locks, which are puzzle to all who
look upon them, have not long before this
been given over to the barber.
However that may be-" replied the
young lady so addressed, u think might
be tempted TO play the part of a Delilah, in
so far as the clipping of his hair is con-
cerned, if | could only be brought within
reach of him, even at the risk of destroy
ing the effects Of those marvellous percus-
si0ns which have made his name famous in
both hemispheres."
OF course this con Tersation carried on as
it was soto roce, could not very easily have
reached the ears of the great pianist, and if
it did it made not the slightest impression
upon him, for there he sat transfxed as it
were, looking neither to the right or left,
with music gushing out from his finger tips
and flooding the whole air with LIQUID
chants of such infinite variety and color
that it seemed at times as though the artist
must be gifted with more than human
power.
A clever critic in speaking of Rubinstein,
says: Under his wonderful fingers the
piano sings or thunders, murmurs or tin |
giles. laughs or weeps, in apparent freedom |
from all physical law but that which puts |
it on immediate relation with the soul of |
the performer. 1t absolutely gives up all |
semDance of being machine at all, and |
becomes living agent, interpenetrated by |
and responsive to the spirit of its master"
Mr.. Wieniawski was particularly happy
yesterday IN his selections, giving for his
opening that most delicious fantasie of his |
own creation, inspired by the music of |
Faust" and into which he has beautifully |
woven the most touching strains of that
favorite opera.
As from time to time, in the execution of |
this fantasie, the well known songs of |
and her lover came stealing out |
from intricate clusters of variations upon
the theme like odor of violets from beneath
a thick-coned garden border, they were
caught up and drank in eagerly by every one
present, and a smile of pleasant approval
went ripping round the horseshoe cones,
the parquette and lighting
up the faces of the bright-fsced girls peep
ng out from the i0geS griiieeS.
And when this artist in response to an |
encore, intimated that he was about to give |
he Carnival of Venice" which ne after
ward did in the most brilliant manner con-
,eivable, the faces of all lighted up in an
icipation of the pleasure, and before a half
l0zen notes had been sounded by the clever
ccompanyist, the enthusiasm of the au- |
lience could not be restrained, and broke
0rth into the most vOcifer0us applause.
This was not only a marked cOmpli nent to | ,
ir. Wieniawski, but an evidence that the | {
election was one which the whole audience ,
would he able to appreciate and enjoy.
Mr.. Rubnstein met with compliment {
qually as marked when, after the most per
istent calls for an encore in the second |
art, he gave, in manner which seemed to
urpass all his previous efforts, the beauti- I
al Turkish march from the Z" Ruins of ,
lthens," by Beethoven.
Mile. Louise Ormeny, the chanteuse of
he troupe, sang several selections, and was
with an encore in the second
art. Tonight the troupe give their last j
oncert in this city at the Varieties Theatre,
I eight o'clock, upon which occasion ID
lagniticent programme will be given. On
Ionday morning these artists depart direct
}r Memphis by rail.