The herald., 1898-12-25
&ihMfzsIG|e 80 MsG|e Bow
EAS S4a1Z- &
~ -

Rosenthal, who has been pronounced
throughout Europe and America as the
worlds greatest pianist, will visit Los An
gees and give two recitals, Thursday even
ing, December 30, and Saturday afternoon,
December 81, at Simpsons auditorium. As
well as being the most wonderful player
now before the public, Rosenthal is quite an
athlete, and a diplomat, as the following
stories related by himself will prove: "One
afternoon. while in Italy, near Lake Como,
Rubinstein sent me an invitation to visit
him, an opportunity of which | was only
too glad to avail my yself. 1t was out OF the
season, and the steamers had ceased to make
their regular trips across the lake, where
Rubinstein resided. 1t was in the rainy
season, and the floods had spoiled travel. So
] decided to swim across the lake. This was
no easy task, as it took two hours to do it,
l put my clothes in dilapidated skif
plunged in and swan across to the opposite
shore, pretty well exhausted, and my gar
ments dripping with water. Freshly attred,
] jumped into cab, and, arriving at Ru
binstein's villa, sent in my card. He re-
ceived me with open arms, and when | re-
lated my adventure, he said: You are a
second Leander,' and | answered, You are
my hero"
''On another occasion,' said Rosenthal
81 was in Weimar with List. The great
composer, on this occasion, had friends Wis
iting him, the Countess Meyendorff and her
son, the latter IS years old. This boy
whenever he entered the presence OF Liszt,
ran to the piano and played the ID fiat waltz
by Chopin. The young fellow imagined he
played this composition better than any
one else in the world. List endured his
playing for his mothers sake, bua at last
he complained to me about it. and decided
to rid the great master of the annoyance.
This was difficult task, a. the countess was
very proud of her sons playing. | made
up, my mind to play the waltz in faster
speed, the same time i'll double notes, in
thirds and siXths, and to work together in
the second part of the waltz both themes,
contrapuntal manner. In the evening after
supper and after the wine, the young man
requested permission to play his favorite
waltz again, and, without waiting for Lists
reply, he rushed to the piano and played
away. When he finished | sat in the chair
and played the waltz in double notes, dou-
bic speed and both themes together, and
the young man was so crestfalen and
abashed that he hurredly left the room and
did not appear before Liszt for a very long
period. List thanked me very much. and
said: "1ou played most beautiful Chopin
with sauce piquante la Rosenthal.'
o o .
Nothing is more remarkable in the annals
OF American music than the way in which
two girls from Maine-Lilian Norton
(Nlme. Nordica) and Emma Eames-have
taken their place among the foremost Wag-
ner singers Of the day. Both had small
though sweet voices, both enlarged them.
ard made them more beautiful aud sonor-
Gus, by years Of patient, conscientious prac-
tice, inspired by genuine zeal for he highest
art. Both mad the benefit, too. Of Anton
seidls Instruction, and eagerly availed
themselves Of it, differing therein from GER
tam conductors who fancied they knew
everything better than Sedl, and who are,
consequently, now out in the cold NIr.