Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-11-03
A SCENE WITH PIGINTNI.
His Strange Appearance and Marvel
Gus observation-disclosures Power
SaG L.


Gus Observation-Disclosures Power
Of His Music.
From Gardiner Music Of Nat,tre.l -
The following enthusiastic sketch, written
Vicious impression made upon the audience
by Paganini at the London Opera house,
June 3, 1881:
1 placed myself at the opera door two
hours and a half before the concert began;
presently the crowd of musicians and violin
lists filled the cOlonnade 10 sufiOcatiOn, all
anxious TO get the front seat, be cause they
had 10 pay for their places, Paganini not
giving a single ticket away. The concert
opened with BeethOven's Second symphony,
admirably performed by the Philharmonic
band after which LablOche sang "Lalgo al
FactOtum," with much applause, and was
encOred. breathless silence then ensued.
and every eye was watching the e,1Je of this
extraordinary viOlintst, and as he glided
nom the side scenes to the front OF the stage
an involuntary cheering burst from every
part OF the house, many rising from their
seats to view the spectre during the thunder
of this unprecedented cheering, his gaunt
and extraordinary appearance being more
like that OF q devotee about TO suffer mar
tyrdOm than one TO delight you with his art
With the tip of his bow he set off the orches-
ira in grand military movement with a
force and vivaCity as surprising as 1t was
new. AT the end OF this introduction he COM
menced with q soft, streamy note OF celes-
tial qualify; and with three or four whips of
his bow elected Joints OF sound As bright as
the stars. scream OF astOnishmenL aud de-
OF this effect. Immediately, execution fol
lowed that was equally IndesCribable, in
which were 1ntermtngled tones more than
human, which seemed To be wrung from the
deepest anguish OF a broken heart. After
this the audience were enraptured by a live
ly strain, i'll which was heard, cOmminsl led
with tie tones of the instrument, those of
Tie voice. with the plZzlcStO OF the guitar,
foTniI a CT mpOund of eXquIs tie beauty. Ii
IL were possible TO aim al "A description of
his manner, we should say that you would
FOL 10 hx.t "A
is eDceayOriIg TO quiet in his bosom. AMI
which he occasionally, fiend like, lashes with
his bow; this he dashes upon the strings as
you would whip walking switch, tearing
fTt IN The creature the most horrid as we'll as
delightful tones.
he as long legs and arms, and tue hands
in his p ay ny often assume the attitude of
prayer, with The Fingers pointed upwards.
The highest notes contrary to eyerything
we have learEed) are pr0du ed AZ he
hsno recedes from the bridge, overturniIs
all our prev iOus not OnS Of the art.
During these effects book caught fire
upon one Oi the desks, which burned fur
some time unobserved by the Musicians
VITO could neitt er zee nor hear, though re-
pat dly called To by The audience, any TN az
but The f. ais OF this wonderful performer
&c me few pieces were played by the or
chestra that gave some repOse 10 the admir-
Ing audience. He then entered upon his Gel
ebJated performance of the single string, in
Producing the air of "Nfel cor piu sento'
lHope told q fiattering tale), in which he i'm
the heart was torn by IT." In the midst of this
he was so o,are-so c0mic-as to occ aston the
lOudtst bursts of laughter. This feat was up
rOariOusly encOred. He then retired TO put
raculous performance with the richest ar
Pr ggios and echoes, intermingled with new
effects. that no language can describe.
Though he withdrew amidst confusion OF
huzZas ard braves that completely drowned
the full orchestra, y et he was called for to re-
celve The homage OF the audience, and was
SO apparently affected that he would have
dropped had he not been supported by La
There was no trick in his playing; 1t was
ali fair, scientific execution, opening TO US
new ordeal of sounds, the highest of which
ascended two Octaves above G In alt.
A German writer observes, "He is the first
artist On his instrument alive. He has
thrown 10 an immeasurable distance the
whole Kidding world Of Germany. His ma
tive Italy lays all its bows and strings, with
sdoring homsge, al his feet. The French VIC
linisis trernbie for their fame as he ap-
pTOaches TO their confines; aud the first
flourish of his bow is dreaded as the earth
quake which is TO shake the Conservatory
over The heads of its learned professors
With weak organization, Paginini is one
OF the most 1orcible examples OF the almost
superhuman strength which results from the
eXaltatlOn of mind produced by genius.
When be seizes the violin il appears that a
star descends on him, and inspires him with
fire from heaven. He instantly loses his
weakDess-a new existence opens TO him; he
Is another creature; and during the musical
action his strength is more than quintupied
After having performed a concerto his symp-
toms are those OF q man under az attack OF
epilepsy; his livid and cold skin is covered
with pIOfuse perspratiOn; his pulse Is
scarcely 10 be felt; and when questioned on
any subject he answers only IN mOnOsylia-
bles. The night after his concert he never
sleeps, and continues In an agitation which
sometimes lasts two or three days. These
facts have been communicated by DIR. Ben
nett, who attended Paganini during his stay
in Vienna.
In one of Paginini's wonderful exhibitions
the piece opens with tremuiOus sound from
the double drum, SO faint as scarcely TO be
heard, but sufficient to arouse the attention
of the musician. In q few seconds the sound
returns, upon which the violinist starts and
looks behind him, as IL he apprehended the
approach OF something terrible. On the rep
etitiOn OF this tremulous but less distant
sound, he seiZes his violin, and, with three
or four miraculous and furious strokes of the
bow, throws his audience into q frenzy of
astOnishment and delight.
~When We are wise enough to know
that IL is best to laugh, then we are past
laughing.
s4-The time OF French women is much
more their own than is that of Anglo Saxon
ladies, because, except among sisters o.
those very Intimate, the awfut ordeal o.