The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-10

4 IVA AAS AatiiS Us iuustC1l pTOuiSy was we'll
known, and it was in Paris that he met
! Llszt. Even now Rubinstein loves 20 tell
| OF the kindly words of advice given him
| by Llszt. His concert was q success, and
the musical critics of Paris predicted
! great future for him. His mother was
| eager 10 have him enter the Conserva-
| tore, and application FOR his admittance
| was made and denied. So the boy con-
| tlnued his concert tours and was hailed
| as new star In the musical firma-
ment. From Paris Rubinstein went to
| London. to Amsterdam, to Copenhagen,
to Berlin and great many other places,
remaining away from Moscow for several
years. His success was so great that his
mother determined he should have better
instruction and he was placed with his
| younger brother, Nicholas under Dehn,
in Berlin. who was also the teacher of
Glinks
How strange it all seems to me now"
said Rubinsten to his visitor as he was
seated seemingly in n brown study. IT
was only IL years old when set out alone
as music teacher, to make my way in the
world"
There seemed to be touch of sadness in
MS voice as he spoke, and he paused for a
moment but soon recovered himself, and
continued: 81 began at Vienna, but re-
turned after while TO Berlin. from which
the revolution, AS, drove me back to Rus
sla. L had always been ambitious and my
consuming WIS To a grand
opera, and when was 81 / did produce
my first opera in st. Petersburg
A smile of pleasure passed over his face
as he spoke, and he lighted a new cigarette
and pulled away at it vigorously as he
continued, telling me about the fortunate
event that made the Grand Duchess
Helene his friend. She was the wife of
the Grand Duke Michael, brother of the
emperor, and a most accomplished woman.
but not musician. Her advice, assist
ance and influence were of the greatest
possible service to the young pianist. IL
was she who suggested the establishment
of the musical society of Russia. Rubin
stein was no longer an infant prodigy
he was man with serious business in
life, one whose fame was constantly grow
ing, and he determined upon another
tour OF the European capitals and began
composing in earnest. The grand duchess
was faithful friend. Through her Rub
insteln was made imperial concert director
with life pension, and it might have been
thought that he would have remained
steadiastly at his post in St. Petersburg.
On the contrary, he has been great
traveller.
There is scarcely country on the face
OF the globe that l have not visited" he
said TO me, land scarcely an important
city that L have not played in. / recall
with pleasure my visit TO America in ~.
| shall never forget my trip across the At
".
First, because had many charming com
panions, including Pauline Lucca, and
second, because | never suffered so much
in all my life, before or since, from sea-
sickness. Should l go to America" he
continued, Il hope l may escape such a
sickness" and he shrugged his shoulders,
as look OF disgust came over his express
sive face. sSg
sit is very bad time for art" he sad.
land as regards music, we are in a melan-
choly state. 1t is with US now as it was
in the eighteenth century with painting
an absolute standstill." As he said this,
he rose from his chair, walked about the
room nervously for moment, looked out
OF the window apparently deep in thought
and came back to his chair to answer my
question, but how?"
Easy enough" he began in fretful
voice, because there are no geniuses, abb
solutely none. If we have new compost
ton, what is 1t ?-either popular airs ar
ranged as symphonies, or anything YOU
wish, or dry as dust musical exercise and
counterpoint, without melody, passion or
beauty. All, of course. if you argue over
1t, correct, but wearisome enough to make
one bite ones tongue away with impa-
tience." And he reseated himself with
the air of a man who had had something
on his mind for long time and was glad
the explosion was over.
Then he turned to me and asked, "Do
you know what the reason of it isl" He
had recovered his good humor. and u
smile played over his face. ''The women.
the women" he answered They are
neither naive or ingenious, but learned,
questioning, reasoning, in fact. Today
we have no Opheiias, no Juliettes, no
Gretchens, for every girl is counterpoint
and every married woman fugue."
''In other words, you mean that this is
practical age, and music does not flourish
in it.
Eyes, yes, that's it exactly"
Then there is no future ?" I asked.
Nothing very brilliant" was the calm
rejoinder. Musical creation is at an end.
1t died with Chopin, for how long cannot
say, ali that we prize and love in music
died with Chopin"
| asked the great pianist which he con-
sidered the most musical nation. He re-
piled: although the entire power of
Germany consists at present in bayonets
and unity, which is highly detrimental to
civilization, must yet say that in my
opinion the Germans are the most musi-
cal nation in the world. calculate, for
example, that among the Germans so per
cent, among the French 16 per cent. and
among the English only 2 per cent are
capable of approaching music In this re-
spect the English rank even lower than
the Americans. The English neither feel
nor understand music. A true apprecia-
ton of the greatest musical composition
is found only in Germany. The trouble
Is art is sacrificed for money When I
was in America last, delivered myself by
contract into the hands of an impressasio.
That is factory work. l soon began 10
despise myself and my art. Frequently |
had to play twice and three times in one
day."
The subject Of musical culture seemed to
weary my host. He turned from il to tell
me of an experience he had in England, to
show how queer the English people are
$50 stupid, so absurd, so much etiquette
and nonsense" he said. 81 remember a
hotel in Birmingham where had q queer
experience. | came down from my room
Mt $3.50 O'Clock in the morning to what the
English people call the coffee room. 1t
was room as big as a church-every win
dow was open-mark you, say every win
dow-so | sat down, ordered some tea, and
while l was waiting took out my cigar
cites and began to smoke. Very soon a
waiter came up TO me. Can't smoke here.
sir he said. Can't what? / said. Can't
smoke here, sir | was furious. But
why not?' l asked. 1T is against
the rules, sir. We'll, replied, Il am a
foreigner still calmly smoking. Then he
walked oil, giving me contemptuous
SMILE to where a group of other walters
were talking. Very soon another fellow
came 10 me and he said the same things
and left me. Producing no impression, a
rather saucy looking though pretty, bar
maid approached me. Beg pardon, sir
she said, smoking amt allowed here I
was amused as well as annoyed. But
why not? said. Well, YOU see. sir. the
ladies, sir, they object, she said. But the
ladies, where are they asked, and all
the windows are open. Then tell me
where il il allowed in dasraratfcn .Tar