The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-11
GREAT IS KREISLER
Even if He Has Not Had Sensation
al Advertising. &.
AN ARTIST IN THE BEST SENSE
Distinguished Austrian ViOlinist to
Be Heard Here with HOfmann
.an and Gerardy.

1t has been the privilege of Mime
apolis to hear some great violinists dur
ing the past few years. Early in the
nineties Sarasate played in the old Grand
opera-house. In the spring OF 1885 Ysaye
first drew his magic bow across his vio-
lin in MinneapoliS, while during the past
winter the city was favored with a visit
from Jan Kubelik
In less than two weeks another great
yiolinist is to be heard in Minneapolis.
Fritz Kreisler, the Austrian v1rtuoso,
and with all due respect to those who
have preceded him, it is thought by many
that after he' has been heard the gen
eral verdict will be land the greatest Of
these is Kreisler."
Kre1sler WILL appear at the Lyceum
theater on the evening Of April "a, in con-
junction with Josef Hofmann, the pian-
list, and Jean Gerardy, the 'cellist. The
concert will be an extraordinary one, for
never in the history Of the city have
three such famous instrumentalists ap-
peared tn. one evening on the same pro-
gram.
Fritz kreisler has not had the sensa-
tional advertising Of Jan Kubelik, but
he has had something BETTER and that is
the ho'sor Of being placed by the critics
In the same class with Wilhelmj and
Joachim. Between Kreisler and Kubelik
no comparisons can be drawn, for Kreis-
probation and expression in music, while
ku'oeRk selects almost exclusively such
compositions as will display his technical
skill.
Because Kreisler has not had the sem
sational neutrality-suspicious. circus adver-
tising-that Kubelik has had, he may not
be so we'll known by the general public,
but all who make any pretentions of
keeping abreast with current musical
matters know that the coming of Kreis-
Ter is an event of the utmost significance.
Claude Madden, who returned from New
York last month, said when Kreislers
name was mentioned to him the other
day: There is man who is one of the
greatest players of the violin in the
United States to-day"
Shortly before Madam Camilla Ursos
death s. friend in this city received let
ter from her in which she spoke Of hay
ing just heard Kreisler, and the opinion
she expressed of him was fattering in
the extreme.
j. e. Frank, the local violinist, also
received letter the other day from a
friend In Boston, who had just heard
Kreisler. Said this friend st cannot be-
gin to express the pleasure Kreisler gave
me. Brilliancy, fire, depth of feeling and
pure intonation! He has them all. Such
harmonies! So clear and true they fair
ly seem to cut the air. What is perhaps
most interesting and astonishing of all,
our critical Boston audience went fairly
mad with enthusiasm and calls of Bravo
could be heard again and again. '-'.
kreisler was first heard in this cOun-
try twelve years ago, but he was then only
"wonder-child." Last year he returned
and was Endorsed by the critics as "a
master virtuoso." AS an indication Of the
success he has achieved in the east, it
may be stated that last season in Boston
alone, on account of the demand to hear
him, he was obliged to give seven recitals
and this season he has renewed his sue
cesses In that city, his last recital draw
Ing an audience which filled Symphony
Hall, the capacity of which is three thou
sand.
A peculiar incident occurred in Berlin
last spring when Ysaye appeared there.
last spring when Ysaye appeared there
orchestra, also encores, the orchestra left
the stage, departed, and the hall was
darkened. Yet the audience remained and
kept up most tumultuous applause.
Ysaye appeared again and again, and ex-
pressed his inability to give any more
encores, there being no one to play for
him. Suddenly the manager Of the hall
Jumped on the stage and approached the
stage box In which was Kreisler and a
party Of friends. After short conversa-
ton between the manager and Kreisler,
the latter arose, walked upon the stage
went to the piano. and without music
played Ysaye's accompaniment in the
darkened auditorium. So great was the
enthusiasm evoked by the appearance of
the two great and popular violinists that
Ysaye was compelled to play two more
numbers, again exquisitely accompanied
by Kre1sler in the utter darkness-Ysaye
merely whispering the name of the COM
position to his brother artist It will GER
tainly be agreed that this was most ex-
ceDtiOnal incident