FAMOUS PIANISTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18257, 28 November 1933, Page 2

FAMOUS PIANISTS

HABITS AND MANNERISMS MR. (;<R AVESTOCK \S ANECDOTES ' SYDNEY, Nov. 15. | Anecdotes about famous pianists were related by Mr. hi. J. Gravestock in an address from 2151,. Mr. Gravestock said that it was nob until 1920 that concert managers realised the tremendous interest taken by Australians in famous pianists. The most indelible impression left by any pianist was made by Wilhelm Baekhaus. “I must hand Baekhaus the palm for gentlemanly qualities, tact, consideration, integrity, business ability, and a generous understanding of a manager’s difficulties,” said Mr. Gravestock. He added that Baekhaus had a loose- ; loaf book which contained programmes and encores of every recital he had ever given. Baekhaus’ address book contain fed nearly 10,COO addresses of friends all over the world. Mr. and Mrs. Backliaus, when they were on their first visit to Australia, sent 6000 Christmas cards to all parts of the world. They had them printed in English, German, French [and Spanish. j The most eccentric of all pianists, addled Mr. Gravestock, was Pachmann. His recitals were a show as much as a, musical treat. It was a common occurrence for him to walk off the platform. “I tried several times to get Pachmann to come to Australia, but lie was a very bad sailor, and he would not face the long sea trip,” said Mr. Gravestock. “Paderewski,” lie added, “is a great night bird, ile very seldom goes to bed until the small hours. He literally turns night into day. Whenever pos-! sihle he had a large hot meal after a. recital, followed by a game of billiards or bridge.” “Moisiewitsch,” he said, “is probably the greatest gambler among the big ! musicians. He will bet on anything, and on one occasion when lie went with Tgnaz Friedman to a recital given by j Pachmann, he bet that Pachmann would play more than three wrong notes during j the recital. We won.” j