New-York tribune., 1886-04-25
LISZT At THE PIANO.
IN ONE gYsTERICAL FYTTE.

The Rey II. r. HaWets In The Pail Mall Gazette.
Aprl 6 1856, Will be a day never TO be for
gotten n the annals of the Royal Academy OF Music.
April q, lss6--A few minutes after 3, the music
1s%sn,s OeSs Sy nt and few
panied by the President, G. MacfsrTen' Water Bache
nooe head with its thick white hair, was sec roar OF
applause every side He looked like hgure out
OF one OF the OLD engrayings OF Sebastian Bach or
Mozart trgly a man who already belongs to another
age than axe Of art creators painters, poets
mehtiest OF them. No sooner had he taken his seat
than tie girl with an enormous flower wreath IN the
form OF Tyre advanced toward him Inc wreath was
placed on table in front of hin: List bent aown
tenderly and kissed the child who, am tod is the
A kiss I, remembered like tho kiss Beethoven gave
to List, who PLAYED before him as boy. ma
could describe the excellent and interesting pro,
granme patiently enough had Liszt not Deeil thcro td
List y rho Bot minds my % up hen
expressed unuttered, there was but one thou1nt-
Would 1T play r. & he does @ w Wh:psrsa stsr 70 ToSns MI
Webbe has finished the List concerto" am proud y
Benpetis Caprice in with great elegance and finish
Miss winplired Robinson pupil OF salntom %hS oa ar
violin concerto had descended to receive the
Masters encouraging word of approval as lie lose aud
sho annaUse wheh greeted Webbe continued long
Webbe mad gone aud the Master had resumed his seat
Then something like agony of despair ani suspense
seized upon the audience. Tney leaned forward with
maenetizng List with an Intent, beseeching gaze.
never saw the wishing willing game rlayed with surh
theatre. have seen transports OF enthusiasm at
Bayeuth when Wagner appeared In 'front.' OF me
have seen the people ST. Jamess Hall rise ut Rubin
stein; but never saw thing 10 Tss ss
rose or the third time and instead OF sitting down moved
toward the platform When he reached tne eao
The ladies the dafodils and lilies rom tnef Sosons
aud grg them at him. a1s ps,ess n. sas down Then
Stiffness as death fell on tho excited assembly Lisht
looked into the air In front OF him. lie was grave,
md kp who before MIN the fOrlnS
and visions OF long ago. InrxpressiDy tender WIN
sigh as out S . 5He Tn Ge 81 CRpns
Ithuansoher Lied -; It was not piano playing; 1t was
echnique, though absolutely pertecl and the touch
beyond compare entirely forgotten as ne seemed to
passed before him with expressive look and the nding
see. But the mingled pathos and repose, Of the
sweet memorial theme left the consumnate deicacy OF
mutitudes OF little subsidiary notes slipped in like the
spray OF a fountain broken IN the wind. L. SIT seemed
scarcely to heed thsm they fell about hlm those won
into the ar-seemed to have nothing to do with tho
keyboard the soul wa lar away ~ anUsnor roS IN tbs
sepuchre-Of youth blown out Ike the roses OF pas.
only now in dreams but calmly with the quiet eyes
that had looked splendor and decay aud taken the
fiI iSnSnScHeT Lied there went Sr the Tsno
thing wholly indescrbabe-rom the bass TO the treble
o. notes it Vas ike gently swelling ripple. that went
welling up the Keyboard and ceased only IKE spent
wave breaking 'H lOHcly sJruHut
as Of twilight and ineabe rest Lszt played ye more
after the first burst Of applause hal subslied. Why
attempt still further describe that other iinpfovsou
and maIrstlo strain that like legend out OF the
older time, told by some Merlin TO vyieni hardened
critlc-mddle aged and not easily pleased turned 70
me and echoed my own thoughts should Ike to
have cried outright" he said =" f hadn't been
ashamed As FOR myscf not only felt like people all
round moved to tears while Liszt was PLAYING the
thuaniseher Lied" but for at least TWO hours after
ward had peculiar choking sensation and perceptibe
auckening pulse bits OF 1t came floating into
ray head The excitement OF the students Was unex.
ampled. The two greatest virtuosi who have ever
appeared Us far ut all gather are Pagsninl
and List. Few in that could say they nad heard
Paqanin-bu List, In OF his sweetest solemnest
moods was all events heard yesterday to psfecti0D
understand Rubinsteins saying. There Is only ono
pianist-Iiszt." ! understand Won Buloys despair
when he exclaimed after listening to his great master,
What business have all we woodch0ppors To play the
piano-after himi'