New-York tribune., 1903-03-08

estIng episodes in the lives Of two great nlusi'SS
Pagsnini and Berlioz. -,-, se
n chs month of December, 1888, Paganim at
+.-da5 . concert in Paris and there heard Tor the
6rst lime the Symphonic Fantasdque' OF 6srH01
Tls {r,nressIon the work made upon him was
most profound one Monsieur" SAID ne 10 s I0to-
e,or have begun where the others left on ana
from this time there existed strong sympa.ly
,,,s Cordial friendship between the two men, NoR
long after Paganini left commission Win 6stiA1@
for q concert piece for the viola befhO4 ser AOe4S
the task but not in the manner In Wnich F1s@tlni s
Rod exnscted BerIioz handled masses; his muse
was fun of imposing dramatic effects and eouia
not well be brought into the rut when produces
brsvuru pieces. He planned work for sne v1oAr
but IL was q symphony for full orcnesFa' Win &A
obbIigato part intrusted to the instrument
loved 70 play This was the origin OF 'Harolh en-
ItaIie" a symphony founded on Byron's "Chtlde
Harold" in which the hero found expression Tor
his emotions in the viola obbhgato. Fer a phenom-
email vtrtuoso like Paganini the plan had no at
fractions and he left Paris long before the eom-
pIetion Of the composition.
-Four years after he was again in Paris and in
attendance on concert Of the ConserVatoire; the
principal number on the programme was the new
symphony, and Hector Berlioz conducted the per-
fornance. If the impression on hearing the fan
tastic symphony had been profound that which
was produced by Harold Italie" was over
wheIming. The gray haired world renowned virtuz>
oso approached the young and comparatively un-
in the presence Of all the musicians humbIy kissed
his hands But this was not the full measure Of
his gratitude Hearing of the sadly straitened
circumstances Of his friend, he sent to him by the
hands OF his son Italian letter of the following
purport:
exdnguished it remained for BeTlioz alone TO re
kindle IL. Therefore ! look upon Il as my duty 10
probation Baron RothschiId will honor the in
closed whenever il shall please you to make use OF
''NICoLO PAGANINI."
This is the story as it is found in the books.
Ferdinand Hitler. We believe however is authority
for the statement that Paganini did not give his
own money to the composer, but acted simply as a
go-betWeen for a philanthrOptst who did not want
TO be known Another story has ii that Jules JRnn,
the all powerful critic, enraged at Pagauini's re-
fusai 20 play at charity concert in which he was
interested, threatened to drive the violinist
Paris. His friends interceded in his behalf and
Jann finally agreed to forego his dire revenge, pro-
vided Paganini gave 10000 francs to the poverty
stricken composer. No matter which OF the stories
Is true # is that BerIioE got the money. Full
OF gratitude, he planned a great, passionate work
worthy OF being dedicated to his benefactor. The
outcome Of this resolution was the dramatic
symphony Romeo and Juliet" 1t was performed
In 1888, but Pasanini neither saw nor heard the
music, He died in IS40 before Beroz had COM
pleted the alterations which the performance had
shown to be necessary.
When David Bispham gives his second reading Of
shakespeare's "A Midsummer Nights Dream at
Carnegie Hall this evening to Mendelssohn's music
he will have the assistance OF Miss Edith Chap
man. Miss Ethel Crane. chorus of women from
the oratorio Society. and Frank Damrosch. con-
ductor
Here are two letters which ask publication and
invite if they do not challenge, comment:
To the Editor Of The Tribune
he IN
youf Issue OF the 2lth inst Of the perforpance by
Requiem" at the Metropolitan Opera House Il
would seem that. without intending to be unjust.
extremely G rem unfair n proof q this and h {qstice
publish the inclosed letter. which was written to
ne the conductor Of the society, by the composer
Yours respectfully, WALTER HENRY HALL.
Hotel Normandie. Feb. a. 1905
M, MY yh;aI DeaE Mt Mt Hal Hall: fear have not expressed
have taken with my work. The excellent result
y certainly was to me Light and shade rhythm.
tesling precision-5it was all there and I am only
c ehorsi perIformanees I on the stage prevented the
ne 20 s heaFo 20 lts FULLEST sdvaatage eno pc
pest compliments and greetings to the members OF
your excellent chorus-nOt to forget the b0ys-at
your next meeting and assure them Of my high
esteem With kind regards very truly yours ygf14.,
Mr. Hall and Mr.. Henschel have had their say,
out since the former quotes the latter In an at
tempt 70 discredtt the judgment Of The Tribune
and other newspapers in New-York q brief re-
3oi1deF may not be out OF place The criticism
OF this Journal was honest unbiased expres-
sion OF opinion after sincere effort to apprehend
and appreciate new composition whose composer
has been recognized an artist Of exesIIent vaertt
The singing Of the Brooklyn Oratorio Society was
secondary matter. and it seemed TO the reviewer
to stand in the way OF his chief desire Had Il
been sficient illuminative there would have bssp
q natural disposition on the part OF the reviewer
to give praise to the interpreting medium after an
appreciation Of the work Itself The latter having
been made impossible by the iasGeetIyeasss OF the
performance. there nothing 10 do IN justice 20
all concerned except TO dismiss the subject with
an expression Of regret at such necessity.
But # appears that, Ia AF, HsRacheta spisisH,
nearly ali the exceIlsnces Of choral siRgiEE-'RhL