The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-03

stretched arms, and folded MS young pupl
1.-The hero of the evening before, in an affe
tionate embrace, calling him "Angelo." an
congratulating him upon the success OF b
performance. Then, and not till then, d
he turn to US ladies with few cordial wore
of welcome. Not more than five minute
had elapsed when he took his seat at th
pisno-uninvited, of course. What can
'Isy? I could say great deal. coul
write for hours, and yet words would fail q
terly to convey the smallest idea of his tr'
mendous power. He makes the piano fairl
talk; he makes it weep; he makes it thunde
with almost the power of an orchestra. l
fact he does with it what no one living has "
b zen able to do, and always with an ease
VIII thorough absence of exertion, which
simply inconceivable. It almost makes on
superstitious, and it is hard to believe that b
is as other men are, and not something super
human It is not his mechanical skill o
which l particularly speak, although that il
| itself is so enormous, but the poetry, the fire
the passion, the soul, of his rendering Hi
appearance at the piano adds great deal t.
the effect, for one recognizes genius in tn
far of, earnest look of the upturned eyes, ant
the proud consciousness of power in tn
backward bend of the fine old head. HI
| looks like what he is-inspired.
/ merely sat and cried, without attempting
to conceal my tears, or even my sobs, and
probably looked like fool, and was ever
proud Of it. When he had finished his glori
GUS performance, he came to me, took my
hand, and led me to the piano, with the re-
quest that should sing. l obeyed. for he
is king in the musical world, and his wish
is law. With fear and trembling sang tc
him in my desperation one of his own com
positions, "Mignons Lied" in which he
accompanied me. When l had finished il
somehow or other, he expressed his approval
most amiably, but at the same time, told
me how he had intended certain parts to
be rendered. He sang those passages to me
himself in q sort of undertone, but with q
fire and intensity of soul l never heard
equaled. His eyes we're fairly ablaze, and
in his earnestness, he seized my wrist, and
held it like vice. 1 suppose 1 must
have looked little alarmed, for his manner
suddenly changed to the softest grace. and,
smiling, he said "My child, you think l am
crazy. only wished to show you the feel
ing wanted expressed in those phrases"
He then went to his own loom, which ]
have already described, re-appearing pres
emily with hearts ease, which be put into
nv hand, with these words: evil you &C
cept this little flower, which l have taken
from a boquet that I keep only for my
friends?" was quite overcome, not dream.
ing what was in store for me, for when took
my leave he escorted me to the carriage door,
and there put the whole bouquet into my
lap. l have it now, faded and falling to
pieces, standing near my piano, carefully pre-
served under glass case, and 1 consider it
the most valuable thing possess.
After that memorable interview, I saw him
nearly every day during the rest of my stay
IN Popoa Cnnn ho wonld NAV
other times talk, giving us most interesting
"reminiscences of great musical artists. or re-
lating his own personal experiences in the
most amusing manner. He says that he
learned more, unsteady, from hearing Mali
bran sing than in any other way.
He admitted us one day to the rehearsal
of concert, to be given by one of his pupils,
and we had the great advantage of hearing
his instructions to the young man at the
same time He walked continually up and
down the room, looking up CHS favorite
position,) and tapping the time very gently
on his open hand. His pupil evidently did
not satisfy him. He would take his seat at
the piano and try to exemplify what he had
been telling him. He would perform some
difficult passage with the most absurd ease,
looking over his shoulder at the young man,
and telling him how it should be DONE
"Let your hand CO." he would say; "turn
it over and over loosely; turn the wrist like
the movements Of a snake, so;" and in ex-
EN- ratification, he would undulate over the
keys with the most marvellous rapidity. Bat
to no purpose the effect of the young
pupils imitation was ludicrous, and yet he
was not poor perft rmer, by any means, as re-
CARDS mechanical skill. But the greatest per-
Torrance sounds insipid and tame after hear
ing List. The genius of the man seems to
sun o and you, and crush you into the smallest
space, and humility becomes your portion.
Even the great Won Bulow said to me one
day: "After hearing List, l shut up my
piano, and never wish to touch it again"
After the rehearsal, he invited US to take
tea with him the next evening, proposing
that afterward we should all adjourn together
to the concert We. accepted with empresse-
ms,d, you may be sure. The guests were,
besides ourselves, Mr.. and Mrs. NJ, musical
amateurs, who we're of our party; priest,
with whom he was intimate; young English
man, to whom he had taken a fancy, and
Sgambai. He had sent his piano that even
ing for the concert. and Madame L. and
came to the conclusion, after serious delibera-
ton, that he did it on purpose to avoid play
ing. He was quite capable of such thing.
However, he made himself very agreeable,
and was full of fun and life. One of his
great Jokes was initiating me into the enjoy
ments of dish, peculiar to Rome, I think,
and of which he was very fond himself fish
mullins He got into such frolic over it,
that at last he drew my hand through his
arm, and said: "Come, let's go and see the
and, before l knew where I was,
be had dragged me into the kitchen, where
be watched the cook at his work.
At supper he was charming, and kept us in
shouts Of laughter. l think he attempted to
be especially agreeable, feeling a guilty
in regard to the piano. After
supper we all went off to the concert, and
there he practiced upon me one of his little
socie'y humbugs, Of which he is full, and
which did not at all relish. Upon taking
our places, he said to me, "Please put my
nat on the chair beside you, as l want that
place kept for me. l am going to the other
end of the room for q moment" | was, of
course, delighted and much fiattered; and eff
be went And off he staid; for he took up his
position at the top of the room with some
aides of rank, and left me sitting meekly at
he side of his hat. How Madame l.. laughed,
md how did laugh When he enters con-
cert room he creates the greatest excitement.
Every eye is turned to him, and every move
nent watched; so, of course my ignominious
position was fully seen.
The morning of the day we left Rome he