The herald., 1895-05-25
A BRIEF CHAT WITH ySAYE
Optimist and Philosopher as
Well as Artist
HIS VIEWS ON WAGNER
The Great Modern Ranked With Older
CIassicists
Ten Concerts In Germany Fatigue M. Ysaye
1ore Than Hundred Here in
America
HIS VIEWS ON WAGNER

A half hours talk with NJ Eugene
Ysaye is liberal education. for he is not
only great as an artist but as q man.
His range of thought is broad, his view
Of humanity optimistic, and he is
philosopher as we'll.
Enterprising San Francisco, and indeed
other papers, having put themselves to
some trouble to discover for the benefit
of their readers. the brand Of tobacco that
NJ. Ysaye prefers, and a few other mat
tefs of vital interest OF that nature, re-
porter of the Herald sought to cover
different ground, and being cordially ac'
corded an interview shortly after tie
great virtuoso reached the city yester-
day, asked few questions regarding his
life interest and work--his art.
The pictures of NJ. Ysaye that have been
on exhibition in various shop Windows
of late do not do him justice; he has
strong German characteristics in his
face; his hair is dark, and his large eyes
are a peculiar blue-gIay that express con-
stantly his varying shades of thought.
His brow is wide and high. the brow OF a
scholar as well as gifted artist, and his
vocabulary. which has been misrepre-
sented to be limited to twenty words, is
moro choice and OF greater range than
many an American has at his command.
"Of course" began the reporter, hay
ing been in town as much as an hour.
you think Los Angeles more beautiful
than any city on the continent. and the
climate and people superior ranrondsS in evfsS
promptly with jolly smile and humor-
Gus cordiality:
"Of course; that is true of each place
which visit. But, in all seriousness,
he continued, his face growing grave,
this change of scene and air, this visit
ing new countries and seeing many novel
an esprit. have invigorated me, until
could play a hundred times more in
America and love it. Why. ten concerts
in Germany are enough to kill one, but
the three play here and three more in
San Francisco will make hundred in
all since l reached New York, and am
not tired at all"
Tell me how your western audiences
impress you, Monsieur.
They are very like those in the south
of Europe. They have deep musical feel
ing. and what they may lack in culture
they make up for in temperament. have
made the same programmes here as in
the east, and although there the educa-
ton in music may be more apparent, the
western audiences have responded to the
great art of Bach and Beethoven and
Wagner moro quickly than to the color
and virtuosty of the lighter numbers
with which l always finish my pro-
grammes."
How do you compare Wagner in your
mind to the other older classicists?'
Here the artist soul was touched and
NJ. Ysaye responded quickly, with rever-
ence in his tone:
"There are three gods i'll all branches
OF art. In poetry they are Homer Dante
and Shakespeare; in art Michael Angelo,
Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt; in
music. Bach. Beethoven and-Wagner.
with a little hesitation before the last
word that made its utterance all the more
impressive. IL
century master with the othefs?"
"Yes." with vehemence. "he was de-
MED for long time by those whose
thought, but he was great. great; he not
only worked out his theories along the
most rigid classical lines, but lie did
more, he felt and realized the modern
spirit enough to weave color and richness
about those theories, thus adapting them
to the times and conditions III which he
liveu; Wagner is no longer fad, he is
and here another glimpse OF humor
made itself visible on the speakers face
--''all right"
"You play the Kreutzer Sonata at the
Saturday matinee, Mr.. Ysaye; what do
you think OF the use Mr.. Tolstoi made OF
that sonata in his book?"
Instantly all signs of merriment van
ished. ''Think'-a pause ~ think
either Mr.. Tolstoi or his publisher had
keen advertising instinct, and think it
was little short of blasphemy. The
kreutzer Sonata belongs to Beethoven S
great period, it ranks with his fifth and
ninth symphonies. as a work of art; the
first two movements have as pure, rare
and exalted themes as he ever worked
out, and to have used the name and the
sonata as a vehicle Tor conveying such a
moral was most horrible. The Kreutzer
Sonata. however. had worldwide fame;
it is a duet for piano and violin. it was
therefore amenable to his purpose and
Mr.. Tolstoi knew what the name would
do for his book, but it was a terrible use
to put it to, for the book is bad-bah. I"
And NJ. Ysaye tossed back his hair and
passed his hand, fine, strong. hand
some hand by the way. across his eyes as
if to shut out an unpleasant vision.
''1t is a charming place, this. l am 60
ing TO enjoy the sunshine and flowers,
you Will be at the concert tonight? Yes.
Then au revoir." And with an other
candid an, lilo bo yas oono