THE LATE SULTAN'S PLANIST.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 6, Issue 507, 28 November 1876, Page 2

THE LATE SULTAN'S PLANIST.

La Liberte announces among its musical items the arrival in Paris of one Donizetti, professor of piano music to the late Sultan Abdul Axis, through whose d—th the ian has lost his situation. Donisetti, who, it appears, is a nephew of the author of “Favonta,” describes his experiences thus: —You are summoned at 8 o'clock ha the morning to play for three hours. You must be in full uniform and von wait for 7 boon in an elegant gallery, inters you on forbidden to rit down. From time to time they come to tell yon what is going on in his Majesty's apartments. * Uis Highness is going to arise.’ The moment yon bear tins yon must postrate yourself. * His Highmtr is going to the bath.’ Again you poatrate yourself. * His is dressing. You prostrate yooraelf lower thm ever. And mt the intelligence continues until von an wearied beyond endurance, and the is finally ready. Then a grand piano is brought in without its legs, for the flow of the gallery is a precious mosaic of the rarest woods, and may not bear the weight of a piano even. The immense instrument is placed on the becks of five wretched Turks suitably placed on their hands and knees. 4 Bat,’ sty you, •I cannot play on a five Turk piano.' Supposing you complain that the instrument is not level, they gracefully place a cushion under the knees of the smallest Tnrii and tall you to proceed, without suspecting the sentiment of humanity that has occasioned the delay. The Sultan appears, and, after all manner of prostrations, yod ask for a chair. There is none; no one ever sits in the presence of the Sultan. You protest that you cannot play unless you sit, and the Sultan finally orders a chair to be produced. You play for an hour or so, end after the Suited has Watched the effect on hd followers until to is weary he rudely thrusts you aside and TOkes your place. The eunuchs and the rest awake and applaud his discords with rapturous exclamations, and after he has amused himself thus until he is satisfied of the superiority of his music over yours, you are dismissed. And this is to be pianist to a Sultan.