The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-06
SOME GREAT PrAN1srs.
Gottschel<, Thelberg and D'Albert
Sarssate and Sis FiSdle.

Gottsche1<, Thslberg and D'Albert.
Sarssate and Sis FtSdle.
Copyright, 1899. By fhe United Pressl
The earliest OF my recollection in the
piano playing line is Gottschalk, long.
listless languidity. Very self-consclous
was he, as with paliid face and delicate
fingers he languishingiy took his seat at the
piano, the Keys Of which he touched gently
with lace muncholr. Casting glances at
well known faces in the audiencs, he would
roll his great blue eyes heaven ward and
sec m to scar IN the upper attitudes of melodi-
Gus thought.
Light and airy, fantastic and graceful,
was the great GostschalK, who h d an inn
menslty If human nature in him after all
as was clearly eviuced by an incident which
may here relate. There was In the long
ago. as always, a & ca, rivalry between the
famous masters, Steinway aud Chickering.
Gottsonalk played always upon one Of the
latter Instruments
A young lady, native of Brooklyn. had
been assisted in her musical studies by Will.
lam Steinway-one Of natures noblemen
by the way-wno mad placed at her disposal
one Of his superb grands. The lady had
been invited to play at Brooklyn philhar-
monte concert, aud one OF the numbers was
duet with MIR. Gottschalk Tns audience
that Mr.. Gottschalk declined to
participate in the duet, because
the young lady was to play upon a Stein.
way rather than Chickerlng, whereupon
it was suggested, in view If the fact that
artists, however great, possessed the C lin
palm, that it might be good idea IL those
short coat-tatled days of MIR. Gottschalk TO
promenade Broadway with the ,iame of
Chickering neatly but conspic lously en-
hFni1arad in tina 0f in
PIANIST THALBKR3's PEoULIARITIEs.
Thalberg, another royal parsonage in the
piano line, was noted for his dignity of
manner, while Gottsohalk could be led into
a filtration by any silly girl or woman who
would take the trouble to send him scented
billet doux. Thalberg fell back always
upon his sense Of self-respect, and conducted
himself with such entire manlintss as 20
win the regard Of all who met him, as we'll
as the admiration Of oil who heard him.
Thalberg was perhaps more a mechaniciau
than pianist, and his compositions bear
ample illustration Of his ingenuity In finger
ing, process which amateurs find much
more easy TO admire an TO follow
The great lett-handed performer Wehli,
we all remember by reason OF his marvellous
command of his left hand, with which be
produced effects which would seem almost
impossible to masters of both hands. He
liberal and full of fun, and an easy prey t.
the rounders of the city.
Perhaps among them all Rubinstein was
the most successful. Taking the world at
large, he is the most famous, next to the
one who stands pre- eminent easily first, the
great and only Liszt. When Ruuinstein
was here in 1872 and 1878, it is not too much
to say he captured the e1tire people His
concerts were phenomena financial, artis-
Tn rRfn tfA lyn
Thalberg, Rubinstein was pur-
ist. He depended for popular
favor solely upon the possession OF talent
and his artistic methods OF exploiting it.
He vas dignified to degree, cold aud un-
impressed by the favor, even by the fervor
Of his hearers. What would have tickled
Gottschalk into an infantile At of self-con-
cet would produce no effect whatever
upon the massive Rubinstein. and no ap
parent effect upon the calm-exter.ored
Tbalberg.
1t is a great compliment to couple the
name OF D'Albert with that Of Rubenstein,
and yet II seems no more than fairness tC
do 30. TIE best judges here regard DIAL
bert's mastery of techuic equal to that OF
the famous Rosenthal. who delighted and
fascinated and open>eyed the town. II
seems to be the general impression that
while D'Albert rivals Thaiberg in brilliancy
THE NIGHT D'ALBTET PLAYED.
may be pardoned enthusiasm over this
little chap by reason OF the genuineness oil
my appreciation. Ii was a rainy, disma
kind of night when he made his debut il
the Metropolitan opera house, and confes:
TO ha!f-heartedness In going; but, think
ing that possibly the signal enterprise OF
Henry Abbey might need all the bolsterine
that his newspaper friends could give him
went. To my amazeuent found long
lines OF would-be ticket purchasers turning
away from the ample enrrauce of the Me-
tropolitan opera house Every box was
packed. every seat was filled, and, in the
words Of au official, the house could have
been sold three times overas
/ sat entranced, bewildered, by the super.
abundance of D'Albert's God-given genius.
Odd, diminutivs, unnatractive, uncouth as
is his personality. so extraordinary is bis
mentality, sowonder- compelling his manlp~
ulative superiority, that-sharing the
tumultuous uphea7al of appreciation, rising
into shouts aud cheers aud loud recalling
huzzas-I easily forgot the chilllness OF the
November stor n and yielded to the popular
current, citizen Of the great common
wealth of rapturous congratulations.
sARAsATE AND HIS FIDDLE.
Aud now the fiddler.
Sarasate, believe to be a Spaniard. He
came TO us with an old-world reputation as
an artist. studied him physically, as al
ways do every artist He is the very anti
pode Of his confrere, D'Albert, Both are
short, but, while the littleness of D'Albert
inclines to stubbiness, that Of SaTasate
dwindled 70 fragility.
Ho is perfectly made man Of very
small pattern. with a well~proportioned
head, covered with low-growlng hair, some
OF which genius locks over forehead
toward a pair OF deep-seated. near-sighted
eyes, which he constantly half shuts, that
he may perfect his impaired vision. His
feet were shod with highly polished, neatly
fitting CATERS; bis clothes fitted him with-
out a wrinkle or crease. he was in no
sense dudish. nor .foppish, but excessively
neat-particularly' careful 10 every line Of
costume.
Nervous % a degree, be beat now and