The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-20


he1&hk ~ quickly lighted the tapers 81
g. ddo q - lAno There was . cry d
Isu1psise In the assembly.
What! vss il you? We thought it wa
Chopin.
What ssyest thou?" said he to his rival.
II say like all he rest, I should have
thouoht it was Chopin"
"Then seest thou that List can be Chopin,
whom he wishes? but Chopin-can he be
List?
That was defying him; but Chopin would
not. dared not, accept List was avenged.
Sometimes they played . comedy or impro-
theater; they gave only the subject of the
piece and the distribution Of the scenes. The
actors improvised q dialogue. Liszt and
Chopin comprised the orchestra. Two pianos,
placed at the right and left of the stage, COW
cred with drspery, were occupied by the Dir
/ tu0si, who followed the piece and improvised
| the interludes according to the change Of the
drama.
Here, again. We are power ess to express
what We heard Both artists were gifted with
. prodigious memory knowing ali the Italian,
French and German operas, Selling with I'd.
mirable promptitude the movements which
suited the situation, they developed them
with such dre, with such ardent superiority,
that the actors at the side were obliged to cry,
Enough! enough" These smusements were
always followed by magnificent and joyous
supper.
memories of that summer; but in order not
to weary the reader, We will end with an
artistic fantasm, Of which few examples are
found under similar circumstances. There
was, ct the end Of the garden, an esplansde,
which overlooked the MALE nOire, which was
nph1 hat hoA
table, with chairs and rustic sofa, and it
was surrounded with an iron railing,
to prevent the children from falling
into the ravine below. Tnat passage
was known for its wonderful echo. which
would be repeated three or four times. The
children often amused themselves by making
sounds in order to hear the echoes. One
evening, some suggested the idea of carrying
the piano there to play some fragments OF
romantic music, in order to heat it re-echoed
in the valley. The idea was acceded to by
acclamati0n; and very soon the friends at the
castle took the magnificent Erafd grand
piano on their shoulders, and carried it to
the esplanade.
Il was q night in June. There was no
moon, but the sky was burning with stars,
and the aft was calm and sonorous. The
piano was opened at the side of the valley,
and List struck, with his strong hands. that
adminble Hunters Chorus" from "Eury-
anthe," which you all know. Naturally, be
stopped at the fret and second phrase
to response of the echo; at the first
pause We were all seized with trembling;
it was Q new poem, an immsese ideal. The
musical phrase was too long to hear the first
and second echo clearly; but the third and
fourth, or the echo OF the echo, was re-echoed
without losing q single note. List, exalted, |
continued to accelerate the movement What |
could We say? Each phrase was subject of |
ardent curiosity, and of breath!ess attention.
The last, above all, where the chorus in |
unison changed G flat, rolled under the woods |
of the valley with heavy accent; but the last, |
which changed SO ferceIy in the key of B fat, |
announced the victory Of the human will over |
the obstacles Of nature. Alter that flourish of |
trumpets so appropriate to the circumstances,
Chopin took LISTS place at the piano to CRY
and sing the echo He composed then his Inn.
promptu 66, if We mistake not, and he PLAYED,
for the first time. some passages in G fat,
which are in the middle of it. That trans
parent Eolian music placed Chopin above
himself He prolonged his mysterious con-
versation with the spirits of the valley; that
was between them and him q strange dia-
logue, full Of whisperings and murmurings,
which resembled . magic incarnation. The
mistress of the castle was obliged to snatch
aim from the piano. Inc FEVER had come
1pon him. After him Pauline " sang TO-
nance, SO tender and SO native, of "La Mo-
inaro." The air was admirably chosen, for
ZACH phrase, composed of two notes only,
vas echoed and re-echoed from 70 X to rock
viii Q clearness which was ravishing to all.
The niece OF the lord Of the castle next sang.
With voice fresh and vibrating, popular {
liz. which was grand success, echoing and
e-echoing with particular pleasure. It was
O'Clock in the morning when refreshments
we're served, and they Gang in chorus to send {
last adieu of gratitude for the echo.
The dawn was already whitening the hori
on when we separated, burning with emo
ion, but happy in keeping the memory of j,
hat night an inefaceable souvenir. OIL
7here are You now, days Of youth and happi. !
ess2 Where are You, glorious artists, so !,
God, SO artless, 50 indulgent in your grand
ur? Alas the greaterpart are dead with I
70 exceptions, all are like the shadow Of the !
asst