PADEREWSKI-THE MAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13077, 13 September 1904, Page 2

PADEREWSKI-THE MAN.

AN INTERVIEW WITH TIIE FOETTIANIST. (Fnoii Otrn Own Cojibespoxdent.) M'ELUXUTOX, .SeptemlxH- 12. Mr Paderowski, not "Monsieur," nor " Herr," but simply plain " Mr," after the English fashion, liis wife, his "Krard," 37 trunks of wardrobe and general luggage, and a parrot purchased by .Madame in Melbourne, havo arrived, and in a few hours the people of Wellington who have been fortunate, enough to obtain seats for tho fir.st vccitul this evening will liuvo an opporlunity of seeing tho first-namod and of hearing i what lie pan do with Ids. "Krard." During iny oarcer as :i journalist it has , been iny privilege to meet and to interview many instable and interesting people—Premiers and politicians, Governors and Admirals, artists and litterateurs from .Mark Iwain with. Ins charfning personality to the uncrowned King of Samoa standing gloomily on tho deck of a British man-of-war, with tho 4.7 guns scarcely dono smoking from tho bombardment. I havo run tho gamut of modern interviewing, but never before havo I met ft man with such splendid character, personal charm, and magnetism as Paderowski. Paderowski as a rule deals with the interviewers by proxy, through the medium of his secretary, Mr Adlington. During tho whole of his Australian tour iio has only granted two interviews — ono to tho ieprescntatives of the two great daily newspapers in Melbourne, the other to those of Sydney. As a matter of fact, ho hates publicity, and lie abhors the interviewer and the photographer alike. It is only with extreme difficulty that ho can bo persuaded to writo or say anything for publication. Neatly ovcry photographer in Australia brought pressure to bear on him, but ho gave only a single sitting in Sydney. Indeed, ho has sat for only three or four photographs in all tho years he has been porforming. It is therefore a special privilege [or u New Zealand journal to obtain an interview. We were running down tho atcepiy curving incline of tho Riniutnka foothills when I boarded the special «n- in which he and his party wero travelling from Napier to Wellington. In ono of the compartments of

f|io c?r sat Dr Ratynski, of Paris, Mr Adlington, of London, and Mr Lcmmone. The first-named speaks only a few words of English. With handsome features and thiok dark hair, brushed back from a studious forehead, he at once arrests attention, He WR3 bora in Turkey, of Polish parents, but has established himself in Paris, where already he is making a hamp for himself. :Ho copies with Paderewski as mwh as a personal friend aa'a doctor. Mr Adlington, a more elderly man, wrapped up in an Astrakan fur-lined greatcoat that gave him somewhat of a foreign appoarnnce, turns out to be an Englishman. He has gathered together a good storo of this world's gear, and for the last 10 years or so ho -has devoted himself mainly to Paderewski, travelling with him and managing his affairs .generally.. He is a great gardener, and has a charming placo just out of London. • Of Paderewski he speaks almost with reverence. During a somo\yhat unique^experienoo in tho musical world, Mr Adbngton has seen all the great performers from Liszt downwards, but thero were nono_ amongst them to compare with Paderewski, either as • a playor or a 9 a man. Mr Lemmone, who is known the world over as the finest flautist of the day, is equally emphatlo in his praise of Paderewski's genius, his kind-heartedness, his conscientiousness, and his majesty. Ho has muoh to say apropos of the last-named quality, Having had a good deal to do with the arrangements in Wellington for the appearance of tho famous pianist, I recently wrote to Mr Lemmouo wishing to know if he desired to arrange for a formal reception ,in Wellington. Back oame the reply: "There will be no necessity for any reception of: Paderewski. I know he prefers to b» modest. He is so unassuming that he avoids anything approaching display."

Aftor a brief chat with thoso members of tho party wo entered tho main car and were introduced to Mr Paderewski and his wife, who is a Polo of noblo birth. The famous musician made a striking picture as ho rose to greet us with a warm cordiality and a courtliness reminiscent of the Old World. Paderewski is • unlike any other man, ' He has an individuality all his own. The long, light. hair, lacking, no doubt, something, of its former lustre, pushed back over, tho doep, broad forehead, is the first thing to attract attention; and then almost before tho cordial hamlshuko is ovor you note the greyish bluo eye, ret deep in "tho head and wide apart, smiling a kindly wolcomo. from beneath the straight eyebrows. ' Tho turned-down collar, tho flowing whito sill: necktie, and a greatcoat lined with sables, in turn arrest the attention, but only momentarily. Tho gaze returns to tho kindly grey blue eyas, the massive brow, and tho light-coloured hair. The conversation turns on the wonders of the thermal region in the North Island and the coach journey through the mountains from TaupoMoana to Napier. Paderewski still almost shudders at the thought of it. Mud-splutter-ing Tikitere and steaming, groaning Wairakei almost frightened liim; t-liey wore terrible, infornal.l . Ho is glad to have scon them, but tho pleasure is a retrospective one. But then Paderewski is just a bundle of nerves. It is true-tho bundle is a pretty bip one, for Paderewski is fairly broaclsliouldcrcd, weighs a good 13 atone, and has a grip likn a vyce. lie is easily excited, quickly depressed, and after a big concert absolutely played ov.t. He puts his whole soul into his work. Yesterday, for instance, after the long journey overland from Auckland, it might ho expected that he would enjoy a rest. Any ordinary mortal would have done that. Not so Paderewski! Tho people of Wellington wero to hear him play on Monday, and ho would play to them at his very best or not at all. Accordingly, wlion I called at his hotel after breakfast, ho was only waiting for his piano to be taken into his room, and then for ekht or ten hours at a stretch, with'Oiily a brief intorval, he would bo hard at work practising, trying over intricate passages and playing over pieces that he.has already played thousands and thousands of times. You see he has not touched a piano for over a week, It does not matter that it is only a Wellington audience, away at the other end of the world, that ho has to play to. Wellington or London, Napier or Vienna, it is all the same. The marvellous conscientiousness of the man surprises one. With him art is a religion. Successful as lie has been and is, his path has not always been strewn with roses; indeed, for many years he has walked with Sorrow, and though this may have urged him to greater efforts in his art and helped to develop bis remnntic and pcetio feeling, it has not soured the cheerfulness of his disposition, but rather it has increased tho milk of human kindness that is in him. lii tho mapping out of his programme lie is extremely 1 particular. _ That is tho one thing in regard to which he will accept no suggestion. His custom, wo find, is to put the more important works first. Generally, ho begins with a fugue, than some picccs in lighter vein, such as Chopin's, while at tho finish there is generally a rhapsodic. With colonial audiences, unaccustomed to classical music, one would think the lighter Chopin pieces might cjiiio first. It appears, however, that it does not matter whatever he plays, Paderewski quickly obtains the mastery over bis audience, and by the timo lie is halfway through the programme tlicy are ready to rise at him, and after people have once heard him there is never any doubt about the second concert. "In the.clubs in Melbourne," said Mr Adlington, " I have heard some of the hard-headed city, men say they would go down to tho theatre for half ail hour or, so, just to hear liini, and then come back to a game of bridge or billiards." "Of course," ho added, " they stayed to tho very : ond." Whon at Home, we Snd Padorowski does a good deal of composing. 110 gets an idea for a themo, and is at great pains to work it out. But in this ho has no definite method. Ho is. not easily pleased with his own work, and tho greater part of his manuscript never sees the light of day. Paderewski, however, does not care to talk about, himself. Indeed, his quick sympathy and kindly interest in his surroundings rind the people about him soon lead tho talk into other channels, and our conversation hecamo. punctuated with laughter and badinage — Madame's parrot, the waiting at Waimangu (which refused .to go off), and tho loss of his French valet, who missed tho train at Woodvillo, and had tho keys of all tho trunks with him. The-o and similar subjects whiled away the time all too quickly. Even tho loss of tho vnlat, which was sufficiently serious, and, in the words of the sccrctary, mado Mr Paderewski " as a one-armed man," was treated with a " gaieto do rceur" that was as infectious as it was boyish. When it was found that tho,-valet was missing with the keys, another member of the party was sent luck in search of him, but he could not .be found. Poor Marcoll Ho could speak scarce a word of English, but ho turned up smiling later on by tho Jlanawatu train, tho stationmaster having packed him off by way. of Palmorston North. Ho chuckled greatly at having obtained from a passenger, for a 20-centime piece that ho produced, a good cigar. . Marcel considered that ho had mado a clear profit of 4d on tho transaction I Wo had also a good story about the parrot. When it arrived at tho hotel in Melbourne a number of ladies, knowing it belongsd to Madame Paderewski, crowded about, and one of them lifted a corner of tho cloth that covored its cage. No sooner did the parrot see tho light "of day. and find himself oncc moro iq tho public eye, so to speak, when he startled tho assembled ladies with tho.prompt and somewhat peremptory inquiry, " Have a drink?" Coming back to less amusing matters, it may bo of intorost hero to mention that Paderewski has given 123 concerts in London, for which the takings wero £123,000, while' in New York the 117 recitals ho lias given realised over £130,000. While, howover, Paderewski makes money quickly, he spends it with a princcly handindeed, he is almost lavisli in his generosity. .Ho has a beautiful homo at Morges, between Genova.and Lausanne, This cost him £38,000, 'and he maintains it with sorviints, gardeners, etc., even when ho is away, at a cost of £4000 a year. In addition, ho has a small army of pensioners dopendent upon him, not only in Poland, hut in different parts of the Continent, and even in England. In Poland lie is beloved by tha people, who strew flowers in his path. A tour through I'oland-with Paderewski is like a sccno cut of the Middle Ages. Of such a tour and the quaint and interesting customs of the. peasantry Mr Adlington had muoji to say. In regard to autographs, it may interest peoplo to know that tho mere, writing of his name in books bccame such a tax upon Mr Paderewski that ho has been compelled to make a charge of half a crown per signature. This money ho is devoting to tho establishment of a Chopin memorial in Poland. Tho 'idea is a very fine one, for Ciiopin lms provided "Tho Poet of tho Piano" with a great repertoire of music audi as ho oxccls in. But rr.cantinio our train draws up at tho Wellington station, With a hearty hand-shak? and a hope that he will see us soon again tho master bids us good-bye, and in a few minutes, accompanied by his. wife,' who is simply devoted to him, lie is pressing through the crowd that has niadp a rush along tho platform to see him, towards the carriage that is waiting to convey him to hu hotel.

FIRST RECITAL IN WELLINGTON. • (Faoit Oon Own CoaRESPONDENT.). WELLINGTON, Soptomljor 12. To a liouSo pot'kw;! fro»i floor to coiling— mdocd,:; m!Uiy pooplo could uot gam admit-

tance—Paderewski made his bow to a Weilingtop audience t)iio evening, and carried them by storm. People came hundreds of mile;! to hear him. Evan suoh far-distant places as Blenheim, Nelson, Westport, and Greymoufch sent their quota to swell the brilliant audience that assembled in the Opera House. From the very first number Paderewski had the audience at his feet. The Bach-Liszt fuguo in A minor, tno famous " Waldstein" sonata, and Schubert's impromptu in B flat, in the first half of tho programme, were all protty heavy pieces, but the audience cheered them_ to the eoho; and when tho Schubert-Liszt sorenkde, "Hark, tho lark," with its sparkiing beauty, and then the marvellous "Erl King," with its wonderful storm scene, fairly roused the audience, and after this encores worn frequent. The lighter Chopin items were followed by Paderewski'a own delightfully quaint minuet, which had to be played over again. Then came Liszt's famous "Rhapsodie No. 2." As its last crashing cords died away the audience simply roco at the famous pianist, and tha applause gave place to loud and continuous cheering which endod in another encore and more oheering, Altogether, it was a memorable night, and never beforp in the history of tho capital has a Wellington audience been so moved. Interviewed after the performance, Mr Paderewski expressed himself as delighted with his reception. Indeed, .he said, he had not played before a more attontive and appreciative audience since he left England.