The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-29
in THREE MONTHS.
'aderewski's Share of the Profits of
His Tour.
Phenominal Financial Success of Four
Concerts In Ono Week.

The concert season which Paderewsk
closed a week ago was unique enterprise
in the history of musical entertaining,
uot only In this country, which is OF
cial result OF such an undertaking would
be possible, but in tne.whoie field OF such
endeavor the world over. This concert
tour, lasting over three months, yielded
in gross S247. 900, and the pianist's share
Of it was so per cent. OF the series of
concerts given by him over the country,
the most extraordinary results were
achieved during the week commencing
Jan. 13. That week four concerts were
given, two in Chicago and two in st.
Louis. The first concert In Chicago at
the Auditorium on Monday evening net
ted s50S9, and the second, on Wednesday
afternoon, yielded 1882. The two con-
certs given that week in st. Louis on
Thursday and Saturday, yielded respec-
lively s3519 and S4776, making for the
week total of more than s21, 900. Out of
this there were 10 be paid the expenses of
the concerts, which were not great. The
great pianist was accompanied only by
his manager, John Z. Fryer, his secre-
tary, Hugo Goerlitz, and piano tuner
from Steinway's, who looked after the
tuning of the instruments IN the towns
in which Paderewski played. He had
travelled before with the pianist, and was
familiar enough with his wishes to take
entire charge OF these matters So ii will
be seen that the tour was not attended
with any great expense Even Patti,
whose earnings never reached the figures
of Paderewskps, Is compelled to carry
with her more or less Numerous COM
pany of singers and orchestra, but the
pianist was supported only by his instru-
ment.
Mr.. Fryer and the other men who are
interested ana informed in the business
of music find the phenomenal success of
this tour more surprising from the fact
that II depended uponlthe piano recital,
which is regarded today as the most diff
cult possible form OF musical entertain
ment TO make profitable. The experience
has been, both In New York and In other
cities OF the country. thar the recital has
failed TO attract even deaGheads. TO see
q man in frock coat sit down at a piano
and play for two hours or more is form
of diversion which even the most musi-
caily inclined people are not any longer
inclined to frequent. But in spite of the
lack OF taste for this style of performance
the success of Paderewski, the phenome-
nal and unprecedented flancial success,
as well MS the hysterical furor that he has
achieved, has been accomplished only by
the means OF his own genius, his person
ality, and his piano. ii Is true that one
man in Nashville left the hall after he
had heard several numbers and learned
that there was to be nothing besides
Paderewski and piano.
"The whole business is a damn money
making scheme" he said to the local
manager when he asked for his money
back, because you ought to have an or
chestra,. anyhow, and couple of
singers"
But this evidence of disappointment
was contrast to the usual expert
ence, which was, as every body
knows, as great triumph IN the cities
outside New York al II was here. Padere-
wski, however, feels that his New York
audiences are more enthusiastic than
those in any other town. lie used to say
10 Mr.. Fryer that he realized how In
towns like San Antonio and Houston the
curiosity OF the public to see him was
greater than its desire to hear and Judge
him as a musician. The experience at the
concerts In these towns where he was un-
known proved TO be invariably the same.
The big audiences greeted him at first
criticelly and pathetically, but before
the end OF the program the enthusiasm
and demonstration We're certain 10 come.
In only one city did Paderewski con-
fess to feeling of disappointment. He
Is very sensitive to the attitude of an
Rudience, and quick TO detect any failure
to respond to efforts. This happened in
New Orleans, where the attendance was
large, but at the conclusion Of his con-
his hearers had not been apprecistive of
what he had struggled to do. This was a
unique experience during his tour, and
New Orleans, which was one of the ew
Southern cities that supported Walter
Damrosch's opera company, aud has for
years had regular opera OF its own was
the one town In the United States which
withheld from Paderewski the fervent
approval that he had found in other
places. Persons " no are familiar with the
situation concluded that New Orleans
concentrated its interest in music in the
opera, and that outside OF that field its
interest was slight. Louisville, a South
ern city notorious for Its indifference to
music, greeted Paderewski with an i'm
meDse audience and the cnsl omary enthu-
siasm.
"we travelled in private car" Mr..
Fryer said to the sun reporter. "Padere-
wski, Mr.. Goerlitz, Mr. Fiscner and
myself, and most Of the time we lived In
the car, going from there TO the theater
and returning after the performance to
dinner, often stsrting for another place
as soon as the concert was finished. Pad
erewski still suffers dreadfully from inso-
nina, and the only time he seems able
to sleep is when others are beginning to
wake eps-He never partakes OF anything
on the day OF his. .recitals beyond a cup vf
tea, which he takes in the morning.
Gle stll smokes Russi cigarettes a.
necessarily ss ever. and in the absence of
any opportunity TO play pool OF billiards
Paderewski devoted himself to whist. SO
after the concerts, when we went back to
the car, dinner would be ready, and We
usually sat down at about IL. Paderewski
put the hour OF as long as possible So
that he might have good appetite when
the time came, We always made u a
inf 10 n hs hs. fus. nj h..