• December 6, 1913 MUSICAL AMERICA 19 ------. ------~~ ------OLQA SAMAROFF PREPARINQ TO RESUME CAREER ON THE CONCERT PLATFOR~1

Pianist Will Make First Public Ap­ pearance3 Next Season After Two Years' Retirement - One of Her Engagements to Be with Phila­ delphia Orchestra, Her Husband Conducting - Reminiscences of Her Musical Beginnings - No Handicap to Her to Be an Amer­ ican Artist Playing for American Audiences - Philadelphia as a Musical City

Bureau of Musical Americ a, Sixt eenth a nd Chestnut Streets, Philadelphi a, December 1. 1913. "LITTLE did I think," laughingly re- marked 1\1'rs. , who is known professionally as Olga Sam- \ aroff, the pianist, chatting with the Mu­ SICAL AMERICA representative in her studio, a few days ago, "when I first appeared as soloist with the , un­ der Fritz Scheel, in the season of 1906-7, that in a few years I should be living 'in :t=:hiladelphia as the \vife of the conductor of , that organization." Unexpected, in­ deed. are the maneuvrings of Fate, but often also in the nature of a blessing, and Philadelphia is to be congratulated upon the happy combination of circumstances which brought this charming woman and distinguished artist within its borders as one of its most loyal and en~husiastic cit­ Izens. "Yes," said Mrs. Stokowski, "I love Philadelphia, as I am sure I have reason to do. It is home to me now, and holds my dearest interests. Philadelphia, I have found, is a delightful city to live in. In many ways it is like some of the European cities, as there is not that feverish haste here, that restless spirit and wild scramble that one finds , in so many American com­ munities. But it is not 'dead,' by any means. It keeps me just about as busy as I well can be, and at present I am' not left a moment to spare. You see, I am to re­ -Photo Haesler. sume my professional career next season Olga S"maroff (Mme. Leopold Stokowski) Practicing for Next Season in the Study of Her H ome in Philadelphia al1d am working hard at my repertoire. ·Several hours a day I am at the piano. I American. I shall play American music of how to start or what to do. But I had plored further the different branches of am getting up a lot of new music, in addi­ whenever it seems to me worth playing ambition and determination to back me up, the family tree and finally hit upon the tion to most of the standard piano pieces. and appeals to me in the right way, when and so one day I walked into the office of name of my Russian greatgrandmother­ The pianist has an ideal studio to work it arouses that inner enthusiasm which I Mr. Wolfsohn, the musical agent, and told who was Olga Samaroff. It was with this in. Originally built as a painter's studio, believe every artist must feel to do his him I wanted to give piano recitals. Tl)at name, and ul1der the circumstances I have with broad skylights, it is a long room, best. But I shall not play any American well-known man of big musical interests related, that, on the 18th of January, 1905, appropriately and handsomely fitted up, music just because it was written by an and wide influence looked at me rather I made my first appearance on any stage, with the grand piano at on~ end and long American; nor Russian music because it is despairingly, but courteously asked me for in , . I soon shelves for a profusion of classified music Russian, nor any music because it is any- , my European press notices. 'I have no had an engagement with the New York on one side, "comfy"-Iooking furniture, thing but good music-music that I feel press notices,' I replied, 'European or Symphony Orchestra, and later all of the personally inscribed photographs of many and know I ought to play. A pianist must otherwise. I have never played anywhere." other prominent orchestras in the country." of the celebrities of the musical world, and discriminate and select the music that This was too much for him. He could not As a final question the interviewer in­ all the luxurious informality and the art­ touches deeply that 'inner enthusiasm' in think of exploiting a young pianist who , quired: "Have you found that being an istic atmosphere that one would imagine order to give the work an adequate per- 0 was absolutely unknown and who had never American is an obstacle to a career in the just such a true woman and real artist as formance. . played anywhere. He advised me to give United States!" Mrs. Stokowski- or Mme. Olga Samar off "It is different with an orchestral con­ the whole thing un, to go back to Europe. "N 0, I have not," replied Mme. Sama­ -would require. It is separated by a ductor; who, of course, must produce . "'Why, I have just come from Europe,' roff, with emphasis. "Not at all. As I "bridge" or short hallway, from the main everything of importance in the musical I cried. 'I have no money to go back with. said before, I am thoroughly an American, portion of the handsome house at No. 2014 world, whether it particularly appeals to I don't want to go back to Europe. I want notwithstanding the choice of such a for­ Pine street, in whioh the Stokowskis live him or not. He is responsible for the mu­ to give recitals here.' But not a glimmer eign-sounding name, and for four seasons while in P hiladelphia. "You see," said sical culture and education of the com­ of hope or encouragement did Mr. Wolf­ played in this country, and, I hope, wi th Mrs. Stokowski, "no matter how much munity in which he is located, and it is his sohn give me. I asked him if he couldn't success. No, there is nothing in the idea noise I make my husband cannot hear me duty to cover the field of good music as rent me a grand piano. No, he rented only that the American artist cannot succeed in and I never disturb him." completely as possible, and he has at his uprights. 'But,' I said, 'I have to have a America. And once more let me speak of For two years since her marriage to the command the means of doing it. But I grand.' The best I cji11d do was to get a Philadelphia, the city of my adoption, present conductor of the Philadelphia Or­ believe that the pianist, and every artist, letter of introduction to Mr. Stetson, a which has won my affections. I find life chestra Mme. Samaroff, to call her here­ not only has the right, but ought to devote member of the Stetson firm, so I went to here delightful, and I find, too, that the after by her professional name, has es­ his time and energy to the music that he see him. After much persuasion Mr. Stet­ idea that Philadelphia is not a musical city chewed piano playing in public and has believes· to be great, and for which he feels son finally said that he would let me have is entirely unfounded. So far as my mod­ been entirely a private individual. "And I genuine enthusiasm." the desired grand, and he was also kind est efforts can have any effect I am bound have been very happy," she declared, en­ Asked if she were willing to disclose enough to consent to hear me play. I sat to do all I can to destroy this mistaken im­ thusiastically. "I have been, and I am­ some of the facts relating to her early down at the piano, and while I was play­ pression. The idea is foolish. Philadel­ but my art is call ing. I want to play again career and her start to musical fame, Mme. ing, as luck would have it, by mere ac­ phia, indeed, is one of the most musical of - I must. These two years have been Samaroff smilingly assented. "Why, yes," cident, in came Mr. Wo1£sohn. He stood cities. I have attended every concert of blissfully happy and restful, and they have she said, "and it was quite eventful, too, 'and listened, and when I had finished the Philadelphia Orchestra that my hus­ given me new strength, new inspiration, my beginning. I was born in . calmly remarked, 'I guess you'll do. Come band has conducted, and have closely new enthusiasm. I would advise every art­ , and in due course of time hced and see me again to-morrow.' watched the audiences. The people here ist, if possible, to withdraw from active the necessity of making my living. I are eager for ' music, and they are dis­ work for a time and rest. It opens up thought I had musical talent, went to Eu­ The F irst Recital criminating and know what is good when new and unlimited possibilities. But I have rope and for several years studied in Paris they hear it." not been idle all this time. Oh, no! I and Berlin. I was the first American girl "The result was that Mr. W o1£sohn ar­ In addition to the work of preparing her have been studying-improving, I hope, my to be admitted to the woman's piano ranged a recital for me in Carnegie Hall­ repertoire for next season Mme. Samaroff mind as wen as my musical talent. I have classes of the Paris Conservatoire, and my first. Think of it! I don't know how also has several advanced , piano pupils been studying into musical literature, not studied there for some time, after which I I played that night. In fact, I scarcely whom she was finally persuaded to accept, only of the piano, but the history of music was with J edliczka, in Berlin. But at fi rst knew that I played at all. I was frozen also one little boy, whom she believes to in general, the ancient and the new,' from I had no idea whatever of a professional with terror, but I got through with it, and be wonderfully talented. In speaking of the music of old England to the chamber life, for I had parents and relatives who the next morning the critics spared my her forthcoming tour she remarks that her music of the present day. It all reacts possessed the old-fashioned prejudice life. They were about evenly divided as to one regret is that it will take her away most visibly and most decidedly upon one's against anything that was related to 'the my merits, but some of them were very from her home, to which she is devoted. musical scope and appreciation. stage.' kind, and it was a start. It was for that "But my season, which is to begin next "In 1904, however, 1;leing obliged. as I recital that I chose the name of Olga October, will be limited to forty concerts, A s to American M usic said before, to do something, and still pos­ Samaroff. You see, my maiden name was all of which will be as near Philadelphia "I want to make my new repertoire rep- sessed by the consuming desire 'I had al­ Hickenlooper, and Mr. Wolfsohn flatly re­ as possible. And one of iriy engagements," 1'esentative of the best in piano music, no ways had for concert work, and having fused to present me with the burden of she concluded, "will be right here in Phila­ matter of what nation; of every nation. in made up my mind to do it, whether or no, such a cognomen. I thought of my moth­ delphia-as soloist with the Philadelphia fact, that has something worthy to offer.' I landed with my dear mother 'in New er's name, ,but also of the objection that Orchestra. under my husband's direction. . In spite of my Russian name I was born in York. City. We, were like two innocent the family would have of seeing that name That will be interesting . . Won't it!" this country and am at ' heart an ardent babes-in-the-wood, with absolutely no idea on the billboards, so I went back and ex- .. ARTHUR L. TUBBS. -~