The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-07

Mrs. Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler is not |
only a very great favorite professionally in
Minneapolis, but she is the idol Of the |
small circle of people who have the priv I
ilege of her acquaintance The keen in
terest OF her personal friends and of the |
public is fully reciprocated by the great
pianist who is filled with JOY to appear
before Minneapolis audience Her first
comment to a caller the other day was an
expression of her delight in being back
In the friendly atmosphere Of this city.
She also called to attention especially the
contrast between the city of the present
and that Of ten years ago. She said
The strangeness of my experience with
Minneapolis audiences never wears off,
although understand just how it hap
pened. came here several times a good
many years ago and found the people
so frigid and unresponsive, if not entirely
unappreciatiVe, that it got to be a buga-
boo to play here, and I gave up coming.
For long time + dreaded any offer to
make another visit for l was afraid some
one would make me a good enough one
to tempt me to overcome my feeling about
the city. 1t was nearly ten years before
the irresistible offer came. and then the
fact that it was from a large choral so
cfety was the circumstance that induced
me to come. for I thought that in a
trained chorus I should get a measure of
sympathetic support. On my arrival I
found the musical transformation COM
plete and Minneapolis was Immediately
of joyful expectancy. l should dislike very
much to miss a. single year HERE
Mrs. Zeisler returned from Europe just
month ago, and sis full of interesting
news and ideas She went abroad last
July, but spent nearly three months in
undisturbed peasuring, during which she
scarcely touched a piano. Asked if that
was not unusual with her. she answered,
Yes, and not plan that can commend.
1t does no permanent harm, but it en-
{Ns w,
full powers If had played even half an
hour a day through the summer I should
have been fully ready for my fall work,
and the exertion would have been nothing.
but a good deal of the time was. spent in
mountain climbing in the Alps and in
Austria, and as T couldn't have a piano
regularly I didn't try to have one at ALL
While in previous European concert
tours Mrs. Zeisler has appeared at nearly
all of the great musical events she has
never before had a series of enga gements
of such great Importance. She played
In nearly all Of the leading German cities
with the greatest orchestras and usually
also gave a recital. In Berlin she played
with Nikisch and her experience at the
IamoureuX concert in Paris has been
widely heralded. One of her most inter-
esting experiences was playing with the
Cologne orchestra under the direction of
Richard Strauss, who was "guesting''
there. 1t is a European custom to have
conduct guests special occasions.
Strauss is in great demand for such serv-
Ices
Mrs. zeisler had much that was inter
ssting to tell of Strauss. Most interest
Ing, perhaps. IS her impression from
things said that he contemplates a visit
to America in the near future. perhaps
next year. He has this year orga nized
third orchestra in Berlin, the Philhar
monte, whose basis is rather peculiar
& m ha
cannot get a hearing otherwise. The ex-
ceptions to this rule are his own new
works and the symphonic poems of Liszt
which Strauss brings forward in season
and out regarding it was important
part of his musical mission to make these
thoroughly well known to the world.
Some one Of these appears on every pro-
gram. -.
Strauss is very busy man with his
work of composition, his position as one
of the directors of the royal opera, his
orchestra and his 'guesting." One of the
interesting things Mrs. Zeisler tells is
how she as a: young girl music student at
Vienna attended recital there III which
violinist played concerto composed
by a mere lad, Richard Strauss, who was
the accompanist.. Strauss and Mrs. Zeis-
Ter have. compared notes on this expert
ence and he is quite convinced that tina
was his first appearance in public. Mrs.
Zeisler still has the program. which she
means to hunt up and show him when he
visits America. =
Friday evening, Feb. o. IN Plymouth
church is the time and place set for the
appearance in Minneapolis Of Ossip Cab
rilowitsch, the famous young Russian
pianist. 1t is two years since he was here
and much interest Is manifested in thu
coming recital. Since his last American
tour. which was also his first, Gabrlo
witsch has been playing constantly in Eu
rope. filling engagements in Austria, Ger
many. Switzerland and Holland. He ha
also toured his native land and when TIL
contract was made with him for the pres
e ent American engagement he had pre-
pared for a long list Of English engage
nents, at the close of a very successful
season in France, where he had become tn
vogue and sensation Of a very sensationa
musical season. Gabrilowitsch succeed
ed in canceling or postponing his Englis
engagements until next season and cam
to America, a. month earlier than he other
wise owuld. owing to the Worcester nu
steal festival, at which he was the bright
particular star The praise he receive
there was very marked and even extrava
CANT.
His regular season opened In Philadel
phia Oct. 81 with the Symphony concer
Since then he has played with the Bosto
Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic
Herbert's Pittsburgh, and the Washngto
Symphony orchestras, beside appearing {
his own recitals. He was originally booke
for only forty concerts. but so great hs
been the demand to have him that h
engagement has had to be extended
The Metropolitan Opera-house in Ne
York will next year be managed by ne
man II grand opera is given there at al
for Maurice Grau has definitely announce
that he will not manage a grand opel
company next year and it is believed thu
his withdrawal is permanent 1t is dl
to ill health. for since he became the e.
elusive manager of the company it h;
never had but one losing season and f
several seasons has done very well final
cially, in spite of the enormous expen
account. Mr.. Grau has also given up Il
management of the Covent Garden Sc;
son in London He was made a Chew
her of the Legion Of Honor by the Fren'