MUSICAL LIFE IN LEIPSIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9184, 13 October 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

MUSICAL LIFE IN LEIPSIC.

[BY SYDNEY FRANCIS HOBEN.] No. 11. SUNDRY NOTES. The fourth and fifth Prufung have taken place. Gottfried Staul played Braham's piano concerto with great execution and power, and is the best- pupil I have yet heard. liio performers at the prufungs are chose who are finished and are leaving , the Conservatorium. At the last, the "Sonata Appassionata" was splendidly played by one of Rathardt's pupils. I have been making excursions in and around Leipsic, and visited the museum on Sunday afternoon. It is an extremely beautiful building, floors and walls mosaic, roof frescoed. The lower storey contains tho statuary. Upstairs is tho picture gallery. Some famous pictures are here, and I shall spend many hours with them. Another visit was to the old Conservatorium, a shabby building, very different to the grand new Consurvatorium. Its associations will, however, always maintain its interest ; and, as I looked at it, and thought how often Mosehelles trod those worn steps, I could almost fancy I saw Mendelssohn or ho stopping forth from the doorway. AT A KAISER'S FUNERAL. March, 1888. Leipsic is full of the extras respecting the Kaiser's death, and all theatres and places of amusement are closed for three days, and the shops have each some memento of the event. As the (Jonservatorium was also shut, I went with a small party to Berlin to see the funeral. We left Lcipsic by train at 5.30 p.m., securing a comfortably-heated smoking carriage. While daylight lasted, we passed village after village, each with their red-tiled houses clustered round the church steeple, arid everywhere picturesquely-attired peasants. Between the villages were green forests and great fields of springy turf and numberless windmills. After crossing the frozen E1b. , . , , and stopping at, several small stations, we paused at Wittemberg, an important town. Beside the railway was a dog farm, with hundreds of kennels arranged in the paddocks. After wo had been a few minutes on the platform, a shouting crowd attracted our attention to the Frankfort, train, which had just come in, and we discovered that this was a domonstration in honour of the Italian Crown Prince, who was, like us, en route for Berlin. After twenty minutes' stay, we went on into the darkening night. As we neared the capital, snow and ice became more and more evident, and the cold increased. Shortly after 0 p.m. the train steamed into the splendid Berlin terminus, and at once we hurried off to inquire for lodgings. As wo had feared, every hotel and room in the city was occupied; but, fortunately, while inquiring at an hotel a tailor overheard us, and offered a room with two beds in it. There were four in our party, but we eagerly accepted the offer, and, after examining our possession, and having some refreshments, went out into the streets, Berlin is a, fine city, with very handsome buildings and broad streets. The principal thoroughfare is two miles long. All the houses were draped with crape and wreathed with .snow, and black flags and streamers floated everywhere. Men were hard at work ■ preparing the route for the funeral. Two immense ropes of greenery marked out the walk, and all along the route great black pillars were being erected. The whole length of the Strazo was ablaze with fires burning in crates, and the streets were full of promenaderH. Along the sides of tho Unter der Linden platforms and seats had been erected. We bought four seats for £b", which we discovered next day were a bargain, as people beside us paid £3 each. Others paid 5s each to stand on steps, and windows cost £I*3. Our arrangements for the morrow completed, we returned to our room, and at nine next morning started off for our platform, about a mile distant. Even at this hour the roadways were crowded. Only ticketholders were allowed by tho police to pass into the Unter der Linden. Whan we readied our seats, wo found that outside the rope-enclosed walk the various societies were standing, and behind them was a space through which State carriages, their occupants glittering with orders and medals, and the lackeys white-wigged, passed up and down to the dome where the body lay. It was intensely cold, and half an hour spent in a cafe, drinking hot punch failed to warm us, so we were compelled to keep moving to avoid being frozen. People came provided with fur foot-warmers and railway rugs, but we were without these. During the long wait for the procession, the crowds grew denser, until as far as the eye could reach one looked over a vast sea of heads; windows, roofs, and every familiar object blotted out by the mass of humanity. The goods had been removed from the shop windows, and even these were full of people. At last the crowd

became ho dense t'nab movement was impossible. I felt tho bitter cold dreadfully, and, when I could no longer move, had to take off my shoes and sit on my feet.to keep them from getting frost-bitten. _ Iho police were keeping the crowd back in die outer streets, but, whenever a privileged, carriage passed, mid the rope.-t had to bo lowered, hundreds or men, women, and children would break through the opening, and run for dear life into the Unter dor Linden. At last it was determined to make an example. One man was chafed through, and, after a great deal of dodging, captured. The wife of the unfortunate rushed to hia rescue, and, throwing her arms around the caponier's neck, implanted a resounding kiss. German *' bobbies" are evidently no exceptions, and, as the girl was comely, this one gallantly let his captive escape amidst the laughter of the onlookers. At 11 the bells began to toll, and at 12.30 the booming of cannon announced the starting of the procesdion. Prior to this, fires had been lighted upon the black pillars, but, as these were of wood, they commenced to burn, and had to be extinguished. The military (in great coats) headed the cortege, and at distances of half a mile were about a dozen bands playing the beautiful funeral marches of Chopin and Beethoven. Long before the red velvet collin, reclining on its bod of flowers, reached us, we could see the tall bier, drawn by eight black horses. The funeral I will not describe, as you will have read all particulars in the papers. We waited to see the royalties, and then rushed off to a cafe, where, after a warm dinner, we successfully thawed. One incident of the long wait I forgot to mention. A grizzled General, passing up the ranks, stopped and looked at a private soldier, and then stepped aside and shook his hand. It seems that the officer had recognised a man who had fought under him years before. Of course the crowd cheered. After dinner we returned to the thronged streets, and wandered here and there. We visited the wonderful Aquarium, looking like some great aquatic cave ; then wo examined the Catholic Church of St. Hedwig, a lovely building, in which the seats were the only unsightly objects ; but I suppose it will be long before a really picturesque pew is invented. Next day we inspected the fine Zoo and the Panapticum (wax-works), and. as all the theatres were closed, and everyone wore mourning, we returned to Leipsic at night. MUSICAL NOTES. On my return to Leipsic, I heard tho great Pauline Lucca in Nicolais' opera, "The Merry Wives of Windsor." I was quite disappointed. She is plump and small, and her voice is neither fresh nor swoet. She has the usual " vibrato," and is always doing shakes and runs. I have just heard quite a boy play St. Saen's difficult sonata with ease. FewNew Zealaud professionals could even attempt it. I will find the change startling when I return to the colonies. Now I get abundance of good music, and wish I could count on it always. To-day we had "Cherubim's Requiem" at the Gewandhaus—of course toucljingly given. The stage was draped in black. To-morrow we are to have a prufung of pupils' compositions. Herr Ruthardt took me completely by surprise to-day, when he informed me at the class that I was to play Schuman's " Abegg Fantasie" at a coming "Abend," and I navo been here just two months, and will be tho first New Zealander to tread the Loipsic boards. Since writing last, I have hoard " Mignon," with a good new tenor as Wilheltn and a good Philena. Tho dancing was very tine. I have seen, too, the " Barber of Seville," with Fran Baumann as first soprano. Her voice is bright, full, and powerful, and one of her numbers was like a flute solo. We have also had the Bach Passion music atthePoterskirche, Reinecke conducting. To-day I heard at the Gewandhaus n son» of sixteen sets of verses. Ib lasted a full half hour ! This is examination day for new pupils at the Conservatorium, and, while I read my New Zealand letters, parents were continually arriving with embryo Kubensteins and Pnganini.-. On one side a tenor was attaining an awful altitude with " do, re, mi," and on the other an organ solo was in full blast. This examination i.-, of course, only for those desiring admission for the new term. I have just heard Fred Lamond, the younjr Scotch pianist, who was a favourite pupil"of Liszt. He is quite boyish, dark, small, and thick-30t. He does not look nice at tho piano, and, though the day was not warm, the perspiration streamed from his face, flis execution is wonderful, and all his selections aro difficult. He plays very powerfully, keeping the open pedal down all tho time, like most German pianists, and is very serious during his performances, never even smiling. SERIOUS STUDY. April, 18SS. The new term at tho Conservatorium lias begun, and all tho new pupils have been formally introduced. I dime in the middle of a term, and so hod to go with the rest. We assembled at 10 a.m. in a small hall, and heard the rules read, in Gorman and English, signed our names, and shook hand.? with ono of the directors. Now the " plan" for the term is out, and the various pupils have been allotted. My masters are: Herr Ruthardt, for piano; Herr Homeyer, organ ; Herr Scherck, theory ; Dr. Wcrdcr, Italian ; and Mr. Dix, Gorman. Ruthardt is a rising professor, who is rapidly making his mark at the Con.servatorium. He is very nice. Homeyer is the leading organist and teacher of Leipsic, and organist of the famous Gewandhaus. He plays exquisitely, and is very genial and a good teacher. Scherck, though not so famous as Jn.das.shon, who is also professor at tho Conservatorium, and whoso works are the text-books used here, ranks next to him, and is esteemed a hotter teacher. He is altogether charming, with a nice voice and a clear, winning way of explaining everything, and, like Ruthardt, speaks perfect English. Speaking of Jadasshon reminds rao that, I heard to-da3' that a pupil took him a composition for eleven harps. Tho great theorist looked ab him in consternation. " Well," said the ambitious youth, "Wagner did it; why not I?" lam making great progress with tho organ. My method of work is this : — A day before the lesson I practise my now studies on the pedal piano at the Gonservatorium, having previously learned the hand parts on my own piano, and an hour before tho lessons I practise them. At my two hours' weekly organ practices I only play previous lessons, but, whenever I find one of the other pupils is not going to attend, I take his or her place, and so get often several hours a day. Students hore think nothing of missing losson after lesson, and will not appear unless they have thoroughly mastered their task. I have never missed a lesson. A MONTH'S MUSIC. I was last night at " Taunhauser"— " Warbbursr Calisthenics" would bo a more descriptive title, as one could often imagine lh.it the singers were going through dumbbell exercise. Tho opera was excellently mounted, and tlio prima donna (Sthamer Andrieson) is a very fine-looking woman. I very much prefer "Taunhauser" to the "Flying Dutchman." The first "Abend" of the term has taken place, and at it Ernest Hutchinson, " the Australian Mozart," played a Beethoven concerto. He is now 16, very English-looking, rather handsome, wears spectacles, and is perfectly ab home before an audience. Ho is undoubtedly a splendid pianist, and plays very powerfully. Zwintschcr, his master, was delighted, and congratulated him. Hβ plays the harmonium in the English Church, and is thought very clever at tho Conservatorium. J. Hill, of Wellington, sang "Come into the Garden, Maud," at this concert. He has a very sweet and good voice, and hLs appearing thus just before me makes him the first New Zealander to perform at a Leipsic concert ; bub I will be the first New Zealand instrumentalist to appear. The laab " Katmnermusik" of the season is a thing of the past. The quartette played exquisitely. Good as all music is in Leipsic, the " Kammermusiks" are the best. One cannot imagine anything more perfect. Their playing is very soft and delicate, and ib seems as though bub one instrument was sounding, or, rather, speaking.