The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-26
ANECDOTES OF THE ooMPorERs.
Emphatic Handel-Cynical Haydn
Single-minded Mozart = Methodical
Cherubini
from the NelU York Sun

Emp0aClC t1anQ6l-OyniCdi 6ayOn-
single-minded Mozart = Methodical
Cherubini.
From the Nelo York Sun.
Here are few fresh anecdotes concerning
the wit, humor and eccentricity of tine old
composers on the continent.
Georg Friedrich Handel directed for some
time the opera in London. He led on the
harp. One evening, just as the orchestra
was finishing the overture, an attendant
told him that the prima donna, Signora
Cuzzoni, had sent down word from her
drawing room that she was too ill to sing.
Handel knew that her action was mere
caprice. In passion he let fall his harp,
sprang up to her room. burst open her door,
and seizing the songstress, dragged her to-
ward window.
II know you are a she devil" he shouted,
''but l will compel you to behave yourself.
If you don't 60 directly to the stage and
sing, you will DO lying out there on the
pavement in five minutes
This argument was too much for the
prima donna. She hurried down stairs and
sang like a nightingale
Handel played the harp so beautifully
that his accompanlne often attracted
more attention from the audience than the
singing. A Jealous Italian tenor after
humiliating experience or two. with a thus
ulSCTaCLeQ HOUSE, SWOTo budb Tue UeXb JlfDo
Handel tried TO monopoliZ3 the applause ne
would jump down from the stage and
smash the harp.
"Do 1t, do it," said Handel to the tenor,
after ha ling heard Of the remark. "Only
let me know beforehand when you will do
it, for, by proper advertising, this perform
ance may be made much more popular and
profita lie than your singing"
Joseph Haydn long lived away from his
Ono gtatr p~tnt ats.il Ia
ton to a bundle of unopened letters adj
dressed to him and lying on his study table.
SAD, you must not notice them. |
don't. They are from nv wife. She sends
me the odious things once month and
ans err them once month without having
read the addresses. She does the same by
my letters to her."
A young musician asked Mozart what to
do in beginning to compose music.
"Do nothing" was the answer.
"But you did comoosiiion when much
younger than l..
Certainly; but asked no questions. II
man has the soul for it, he is shaken and
tortured by it. He is forced to do it, and
asks not how or why"
Mozart was the most absent-minded of
men. While he was busy with the compo-
sition of Don Juan" he made a trip to
Paris. He took chambers and sat down i'm
Inediately to work. After several hours he
looked at the clock TO fird it long past din
ner time. He clapped on his hat with all
haste, and half ran, half trotted to the
Palais Royal. just as ne stepped on the
threshold new idea budded in his mind.
He walked in hesitatingly and abstractedly.
sat down mechanically, and glanced
thoughtiessly at the menu.
"a portion Of vermicelli SOUP" he NUT
tered.
The soup was brought. but the composer
did not stir. Five minutes, ten minutes
a quarter Of an hour passed, and the soup
grew cold while the music Of "Don
juan took form in Mozart's mind. Finally
the waiter removed the soup and asked
what next.
"Fried SOLE" was Nozart's answer.
The soup was carried of untouched, and
shortly the sole wes placed before him.
Mozart remained still completely absorbed
in the thoughts OF the composition. Six
dishes were ser Cd consecutiycly with inter-
walls Of fifteen or twenty minutes, and all
were carried away uDtasted and appar-
emily unseen.
Two hours after his entrance into ralais
Royal small cup of black coffee was on
tue table before him. He raised his hand
as II to take il, then suddenly his closed fist
fell on the saucer, breaking u - hlndeTs,
and senGilg the coHes ia every direction
AT las. ] have itm ho shouted, az be
sprang from the chair.