The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-06-16
ANECDOTES OF REYER
The Famous French Composer
Was Blunt of Speech.
He HAD A CAUSTIC TONGUE.
His Biting Wit Was Lavishiy Be-
slowed Upon Those Who ANNOYED or
Displeased Hm-As an OfficehoIder
He Was the Limit Of Indifference.

Ernest Reyer, the famous French
composer, had biting wit and a caus-
tic tongue. Fortune frowned on him
at the beginning of his musical career.
and his first opera, ''Erostrate," was
played only twice. This did not worry
Reyer much, although, as he said to
the manager, 81 had hoped to see it
played three times at least" Fro
strate' was rather meanly staged. In
the first act the temple of Ephesus
was supposed to fall and did not. 81
suppose" said Reyer, that they
thought that if the play dropped hard
enough the audience would excuse the
temple"
At that time the manager of the
opera was man named HalanZier,
who was no musician and whom Reyer
disliked. HalanZier had a way of pat
roniZing the composer which made him
furious, and he took his revenge one
evening in Brussels. "Sigurd," after
having had some success in Paris, was
played at the Theatre de la Monnaie in
Brussels and achieved a triumph Aft
er the first performance Reyer gave
supper, to which he invited HalanZier.
who was delighted when the composer.
after a speech in his honor, lifted his
glass and said, And now | wish to
drink to Halanzier" Halanzier bowed
and smiled. and Reyer, without NOV
ing muscle, went on calmly and i'm
perturbably-"t Halanzier, the one
manager to whom | owe nothing"
Reyer was playing one of his compo-
sitions at friends house when little
girl-he hated chidren-commenced to
cry and would not be comforted. For
PHYS sake" cried Reyer furiously.
''put that child on a chair and sit on
her face, one of you!" The crying child
became some fifteen years later Nine.
Rose Caron, the singer who helped
Reyer to the pinnacle Of fame
1t was Ernest Reyer who was the
original perpetrator of the joke with
reference to twins which has been
ascribed to so many people. A friend
of his had just become the father of two
boys and had them brought in to the
composer Charming" said Ernest
Reyer MISUNDERSTANDING children"
patting their cheeks gingerly with his
gloved hand, delightful children real
ly. Which one are you going to keep"
When he was appointed librarian to
the Paris Opera he took his duties
very easily and as a matter of fact
scarcely ever went to the opera
house. He was fond Of telling the
story of his first visit to his Office. He
went to it one evening at dusk six
years after he had been appointed
He lost his way and wandered about
up and down narrow passages and
dark corridors until he ran up against
a doorkeeper whom he had passed two
or three times already. The man, dis
trusting the stranger stopped him ard
said, Who are you, and where are you
going" Reyer looked him up and
down. II am the librarian" he said
haughtily, land l am looking for the
library
One day young musician called on
him with warm letter of introduction
from mutual friend. Reyer received
him and, wincing. asked him to play
the two pieces which his friend had
recommended. After the first one had
been performed the pianist turned ex-
pectantly to the composer what do
you think Of that?" he asked Il pre-
fer the other one," said Reyer, and
the young man left without playing it.
When he was on the~stairs the old
composer leaned over the banisters
and called to him. Your future is as
sured, young man. he said "You
have nearly learned when to stop. But
II you had let me off the first piece
too And, chuckling, he went into
his fat again.
Once a young lady sang him the
grand air from "Sigurd" and sang it
rather badly. Il was so frightened,
cher maitre!" she said. Not nearly as
frightened as | WASH was the old
mans answer.
On another occasion lady said to
him: ooh, NJ. Reyer, when hear the
air of Doves in 'Salammbo' l can posi-
lively see you writing it! I can see
you in your beautiful home in Pro
vence, between the mountain and the
sea, drawing inspiration from the sun
shine Of the south and"- Reyer inter
rupted her. There is something the
matter with your eyesight. madame"
he growled. when l composed that
air was sitting on the top of an om-
nibus, smoking pipe, and it was rain
ing in torrents"
One more example. A lady who
lodged opposite him in the Rue de la
Tour d'Au7ergne was an ex-pupil Of
the conservatory, and this, it seemed
to her, was the chance Of a lifetime.
The master could not help hearing her
sing, and if he heard her he would be
captivated and her future would be as
sured. So she opened her window and
daily sang numbers from his "Salamm-
bo." In due course messenger knock
ed at her door. IN. Reyer has heard
you," he began, and the singer be-
lieved that all her dreams were COM