Evening star., 1948-11-21

Hector Berlioz, Frances greatest
composer, during his lifetime always
found few fervent admirers
though he was disliked by some
execrated by others, and ignored by
the public at large. Among his ad-
mirers were List, Heine, Balzac
Paganini. Tlleophile Gautier, George
Sand and others.
The Harold Symphony" is the
direct result of the enthusiasm which
Paganini, magician of the violin
experienced at a concert of music
by the poverty -beset Berlioz in 1888
The violinist is said to have sug-
gested to the composer "a work for
viola and orchestra" as he possessed d
a very fine Italian instrument of
that family which he wished to use
in a concert sometime. However
when the composition was ready, it
was not at all what Paganini had
expected. The solo part was moro
by way of an obbligato than con-
certo such as she had hoped tor
This work, great though it Is, does
not give me a chance to show my
technique. there are too many rests
for the soloist, it is not concerto, y
he told the composer, who answered:
If that is what you wanted, there
is only one man who can do you JUS
tice in the writing of such work
and that is Paganini!"
Versions About 10000 Francs.
However, in 1888 after Paganini
first heard this work, the touching
tale is told of the gaunt figure of
the virtuoso. who was said, because
of his miraculous technique and his
macabre appearance, to be in league
with the devil, being led by his
little 8-year-old son, Achille, to
Berlioz, kneeling before him in re-
spect and admiration. The little
boy had to speak for his father,
who was afflicted with cancer of
the throat, assuring the composer
of the overwhelming impression his
music had made on the great vio-
linist. The next day Achille came
to Berlioz's house, bringing letter
from Paganini.
MY dear friend: Beethoven is
dead, and Berlioz alone can revive
him. have heard your divine
composition, so worthy Of your
genius, and beg you to accept, in
token of my homage. twenty thou.
sand francs. which will be handed
to you by the Baron de Rothschilo
on presentation of the inclosed
Your most affectionate friend, Mic.
olo Paganini. Paris, December 18
1885,"
There is another and less endear-
ing version about the violinists gen.
erosity, one more acceptable to
cynics. 1t was to the effect that
Paganini, who had refused to play
at a certain charity concert, was
threatened with campaign Of un-
favorable publicity by j. Janin, a
columnist on the journal des
Debats" and friend Of Berlioz, and
that to placate the newspaperman
Paganini consented to relieve the
composer with the gift Of 10000
francs.
While this latter version has never
been definitely repudiated, it was
never accepted either. Indeed. 1t
seems unlikely that Paganini, who
we'll knew the adage on the value Of
publicity Ceither good or bad, as
long as it is publicity"). would have
been afraid of such a threat. 1t is
more likely that professional jeal-
ousy (of which Paganini, like all
successful artists, received his share)
was at the bottom of the scurrilous
story. Whatever the truth, the fact
remains that poor Berlioz, who was
chronically in danger of his creditors
was temporarily relieved by the
generous gift.
Based Upon "Childe Harold"
1t is we'll that Berlioz went his
own way in the matter of the COM