Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-20
Ole Bull as "a yioiinist.

Among living violinists Ole Bull represents
the bizarre type of which Paganini was an exem-
plar, without. however. possessing the supreme
power that dignifed even the eccentricities of
that artist. Yet he is man of un questionable
gen ius, and has trodden closely in the footsteps
OF the great wizard whom he sold his last shirt
to hear in his youthful days. His career has
been long romance, such as no novelist would
dare to impct for fear of being charged with I'M
probabilities. Born in Norwegian winter sixty
four years ago (l9l0), he has the ardent tenn
permanent of the sunny south. His early artistic
aspirations were thwarted by family and friends,
and even the great violinlst Spohr, with whom
he wished to study, gave him such chilling re-
cepton that in moment of dependency he gave
up music for the law. Returning to his first
love, an unfortunate duel, in which he mortally
wounded his antagonist, compelled him to leave
the country.
In Paris where he next went, poor and un-
known, he was reduced to great extremities, and
at last being robbed OF everything he possessed
including his violin, he attempted suicide 10y
jumping into the Seine. Rescued from watery
grave, his condition excited the sympathy of an
old lady, widow Of Conte Faye, who recognized
in his features IL striking resemblance TO her
dead son. Taking him into her house, she as
sisted him 30 literally that he was enabled to
make his first appearance IN public as viollnist,
and the romance was completed by his marriage
to her daughter. The most brilliant successes
soon awaited him in Italy, where he recalled
Paganin and was embraced by Malbran OH the
stage at Naples. He Afterwards made frequent
and successful professional tours through Eu-
rope. and had an enthusiastic reception III thus
country. These musical expeditions were varied
by campaign in Algeria against the habyles
and the establishment Of a theatre III his native
Bergen. He cherished plans for the advanced
culture of his countrymen, and among them en-
deayored to establish a school OF literature and
art, but his prospects were blighted by the in-
PRODUCTION of political sentiments into the per
formances at his theatre, that brought him into
collision with the police.
These troubles resulted in serious LOSSES
which, together with the death of his wife, led
to his revlsiting this country in 1907, and form
ing III Pennsylvania the Norwegian colony whose
failure again sent the unfortunate artist into the
world to repair his shattered fortunes. de met
with great success in his concerts, but in an
evil hour leased in 1854 the New York Academy
of Music and undertook the management OF
Italian opera. The disastrous result
of this enterprise caused him TO return to Eu-
rope, where lie acquired enough to enable him
to settle down in this country, where he has
passed some of the most eventful years OF hls
hfe Among the testimonials which he has re-
ceived. during his long career, one OF the mos'
| interesting is violin which he exhibited at 9
! eoBrersdzione of the Musical Society of London
in January, 1862. IL his celebrated instrument
was made by Gaepar di Salo, the most distln
gulehed of early makers, with caryatdes b!
Benvenuto Celini, carved by order of Cardiua
! Aldobrandlni. who presented 1t to the museum
OF Iunspruck. When that city was assaulted b.
the French III 1909, the museum was plunderel
and the violin carried to Vienna, where til
Councillor Rhehszek placed this unique gem il
his collection of ancient musical instruments
refusing to sell 1t at any price. He left 1t, b
will in 1912, to Ole Bail, who was the first t
test its powers The distinguished Norwegia
has another violin by this maker which is III
fsvosite instrument -Ltppncors Magazine fo
lSeDteDlIer.