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THB WIZARD OF THE KEYS. before; indeed, her early life was spent Paderewski has proven that he has lost here. She was born at Bielitz, in Austria, none of that personal magnetism which but was only three, years old when her makes him the most conspicuous figure people came to America. One brother, wherever he happens to be, however great Maurice Bloomfield, is professor of Sanskrit other artists may be in achievement. Added in the Johns Hopkins University. to this, he is more than ever admired in the She appeared for the first time at the age sober second thought of the critic—who of eleven, and since then she has played all has been like every other listener, so swept over the continent of Europe. At Dresden, out of himself that he feels, rather than in 1893, one of the numbers on her pro­ thinks, during the moments when Pader­ gram was Rubinstein's Concerto in D ewski plays. The artist who came to Minor. The great pianist himself was in America three years ago was unquestionably the audience, and after the concert was great, but he has added to his interpreta­ over he followed the j'oung woman to the tions a breadth of comprehension, a sincer­ green room and kissed her, telling her that ity, which he carries to the heart of every he had never before been so satisfied with one whose ear comes within the range of his composition. his magical music. Mme. Zeisler will hardly rival Pader­ Paderewski's technical skill is one of the ewski, but there is no other pianist at the marvels of his playing, when we know how moment who can claim her popularity. comparatively short a time he has given to the study of the piano. He never falters. NEW I,IGHT UPON A STRANGE CAREER. His touch is absolutely sure. He gives any Frau von Billow has gathered together shade of feeling to the notes, because he her husband's letters, and made an in­ has absolute command of his instrument. teresting book of memoirs. It touches It seems impossible that this skill should chiefly upon his life during the years be­ have been acquired within ten years ; yet tween 1841 and 1855, when the famous Ger­ such is the fact. Before 1885, Paderewski man pianist changed the whole current of was a composer rather than a pianist, and his life through his acquaintance with Liszt was known only to a very small class. His and Wagner. wife had died in poverty, because his work He tells the story of the movement which was unsalable. In that year he went to led to the formation of Wagner's style. It Iveschetiszky, of Vienna, and began taking was in 1850, while listening to a perform­ lessons. Leschetiszky is a marvelous ance of "Lohengrin" by Liszt, that Von teacher of technique, but he has had only Billow determined to give up the law for one Paderewski. It was like teaching a music. There is a theory in the minds of Shakspere to read and write. The teacher's some students of the brain that great musical work was done after the tools were put into and mathematical talents are entirely apart the hands of the pupil. from the ordinary intellect, and are really Every one of Paderewski's recent con­ phases of mental disease. They cite the certs has been filled with highly excited fact that idiots have been known to possess crowds, who hang upon each musical both to an astonishing degree. Von Billow's phrase with a boundless admiration. case would seem to bear out this theory. As a composer, the magnetic Pole is still As a child he gave no evidence of the talent almost unknown to us, for the reason that that was to make him famous. It was after he has been heard to play his own only after a severe attack of brain fever that compositions, they seem flat and uninter­ he showed any taste for music. He received esting in other hands. the best musical education, but it was con­ sidered merely as an accomplishment, and A SEMI-AMERICAN PIANIST. by no means as a preparation for a prac­ Fanny Bloomfield Zeisler has been one tical profession. of the favorites in the musical world this But Liszt and Wagner swept away every­ winter, as one of the best piano players thing. Von Billow went to Weimar, studied who has ever come to us. She is full of with Liszt for two years, and then made a fire, of impetuosity, of brilliancj^, and concert tour of Europe. He married Liszt's artistic breadth. She has been with us daughter, who had lived with him for twelve PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE •WORLD OF MUSIC. 479 id^^'^l Rose Caron. From a photograph by ReutUnger, Paris, years when she left him for Wagner. Von issues programs that contain a slight ex­ Biilow obtained a divorce, and spent the planation of the music to be rendered, and rest of his life in concert tours. .something of its history. The idea is a good one, and should be widely adopted. A COMMENDABLE NOVEI.TY. How many people get a program of a ROYALTY AND BANJOS. concert they are about to attend, and study Few people, outside of the circle that is the music beforehand ? Every piece of constantly seeking for new ideas in enter­ music, however simple, has a theme ; it is tainments, realize how large a field there is not merely a random collection of consecu­ for a parlor entertainer. There are in New tive pleasing .sounds. Yet that is what York and London men and women whose many a popular audience appears to con­ names never get into print, yet who make sider it. handsome incomes going from house to The Boston Symphonj' Orchestra now house during the season, singing or playing. 7 PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 480 THE WORLD OF MUSIC. Louise Nikita. From a photograph by Van Bosch, Paris. They are in many cases artists of some dis­ the Cornell Glee Club, when they made tinction, and in others masters of some their debut in St. James' Hall last July. taking form of amusement which gives them vogue and popularity. AN AMERICAN PRIMA DONNA. During the last London season two Amer­ Marie Van Zandt has made her reputa­ ican girls named Leech, daughters of an tion almost entirely in Europe ; but for all American naval officer, played the banjo that, she has kept a unique place in the hearts and sang negro songs in most of the great of those who have faith in American music, houses. They sang before almost every mem­ and who believe that our climate makes fine ber of the royal family except the queen, and voices. She was born in New York, and have come back home, with the prestige of her mother, who was a clever teacher, gave their triumphs, to sing for American society her her first instruction. Even as a child, people this winter. They are entirely natural she had a pronounced musical tempera­ and untaught, singing with the same free­ ment, and in her early years she picked dom as the negroes whom they imitate, but up a knowledge of every musical instrument with a delicate charm that is all their own. that came in her way. The noises of the Their one public appearance in London was street, the organ that played around the with their fellow countrymen and friends. corner, fascinated her. Her brain wove PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE WORLD OF MUSIC. 481 every sound into music. With a banjo, she line in " Don Giovanni." She was im­ learned the trick of making others hear mediately engaged to sing at Covent Garden what had struck her sensitive ears. in London, where she made a decided Her mother took her to Europe while she hit in "La Sonnambula." A year later, was still a child, and put her under Lam- she was singing Mignon in Paris. She has Mane Van Zandt Frcm a photograph by Benque, Paris, perti, in Milan. In those days—the early made her horne in Paris ever since, although seventies—everybody went to Lamperti, and she leaves it for long tours. Her greatest it was the American girl's dream to make success in the last few years has been as her d6but on the stage of La Scala. The Lakme, a part which she created in 1885. beautiful child captivated every one. She A little over thirty, Miss Van Zandt is was invited everywhere, and asked to bring still at the age at which Melba made her her banjo with her. It was she who intro­ first success. duced to Paris and Italy the sad and merry songs of the Southern negroes, as written A RISING OPERATIC STAR. down by Stephen Foster. Her debut was Another American girl who has made made in Turin in 1879, when she sang Zer- herself known as one of the great prima PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 482 THE WORLD OF MUSIC. TPie Misses Leech. h'rom a pliU<igrapk hy Newman, New York. donnas of the world is Louise Nikita. She bids fair to rival '' Carmen '' in the hearts of was born in Washington, and is the niece of her audiences this winter. Le Roy, who was her master during her childhood. She is only twenty two now, CALVE'S RETURN. but has already had a remarkably success­ Mme.

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