THE STORY OF A LOVELETTER IN MUSIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7293, 4 January 1902, Page 3

THE STORY OF A LOVELETTER IN MUSIC.

Most pianists have at some time in "tih'eir lives rejoiced oxer Roblrt Schumann's delicately imaginative " Phantoisie Stucbe," and it may interest "M.A.P." readers (says that journal) to bnow that the lady for Am they were written has just passed away, at the age of eighty-one. Anna Robdnia Laidlaw (Mrs Thomson) was Goiu-t pianist to the Queen of Hanover, and had in her time played before- most of flue European Sovereigns. Her father was a wealthy Scotoh landowner, and the friend of Sir Walter Scott, but, losing his money, he went to Germany to live. His daughter, Anna Robina, studied music under Ludwig .Berg*!, and then began 'what an those days was a very marvellous career for a young girl. Her mother accompanied her everywhere, and both were remarkably handsome. Robert Schumann heard her play at Leipsic, and then followed one of those musical friendships wind eh, on th© composer's side, ripened 1 'into something very nearly akin to love. They used to go to the theatre together, and many little parties "a trois " were enjoyed dm the summer in the beautiful Rosenthal outside tih© town. When Miss Laddlaw left sh© had a letter from her admirer, which ran : — " The remembrance of your stay here will alwajys be a most beautiful one to me, and; that what I write ,i 9 tru« you will see in eight ' Plvantadsie Sfcucke,' which, will soon appear, bearing your name upon their forehead. It is true I (have not asked your permission to make this dedication, but to you. they belong, and the whole romantic history of the Rosen-thai is described in the music. They will be ready in September. Where and hiow shall I send them? . .- . .. I also speak of the beautiful eyes of Mrs Laidlaw, which I think I stall see." After complaining of Slier not sending Ihdm her picture- to remind him of her, he ends with "Give soon some sign of life to your devoted— Robert Schumann." All the chief musical celebrities of those timies wero amongst her friendsr-Grisi, Mamiq, Lablaohe, Tambourini, Rubind, Wagner, Ole Bull, Sainifcon, Meyerbeer, the younger Mozart, and Taubert, who wrote some of his camposdtiions for her. She played at one of Paganini's concerts when she was only fourteen, and he said she was the most magdcal of players. Mayer wrote to iher once : " I hope God will always be in your heart, and the devil in your finger." In the last days of William IV., Miss Laidlaw played at St James's, amd was ' complimented by the old King "on, her looks as well as her playing. The old EmpeTor William and his Empress loved' her, and th© Russian Court was almost .a home to the talented young Scotchwoman. In her latter days Mrs Thomson lived the most retired of lives in her daughter's home a* Bayswaber ; she never played, and rarely talked about modern music. She was a very bright and most intelligent old lady, an excellent linguist, and much interested in— of all thdngs^ — chiromancy and astrology.