From the Easy Chair, Volume 1Curtis, George William
General
From the Easy Chair, Volume 1
Curtis, George William
American essays
It would be still possible even for the devoutest Wagnerian disciple
to hear such a concert, perhaps, without leaving the hall in
indignation, perhaps even without a protest. All the concerts were of
uniform excellence, and the Easy Chair is a competent witness, at
least so far as attendance is concerned, for it heard all of the Lind
concerts in New York except the first. During the second season an
unknown name appeared one evening upon the bill, which announced that
Mr. Otto Goldschmidt, a young and unknown pianist, would play for the
first time in this country. Tripler Hall, opposite Bond Street upon
Broadway, was crowded as usual, and when Jenny Lind had withdrawn
after singing one of her "numbers," a slight, dark-haired youth came
upon the stage and seated himself at the piano. He was courteously
greeted, and just as he was about to begin, the door opened quietly at
the back of the stage, and Jenny Lind stood in full view of the
audience tranquilly to listen. At a happy point in the performance she
clapped heartily, and the whole house, following its lovely leader,
burst into a storm of applause. The young man bowed to the audience
and to "Miss Lind," and, as he ended, with more hand-clapping and a
bright and kindly smile Jenny Lind vanished, having secured the
success of Mr. Otto Goldschmidt. It was a pretty scene. Perhaps the
_prima donna assoluta_ recalled the famous brava-a-a-a of Lablache on
her first evening at her Majesty's Opera-house in London, which
satisfied England that she was a great singer, and confirmed her
career. To the audience her friendly interest seemed the impulse of
her kindly heart for a young neophyte in this profession. To Mr. Otto
Goldschmidt--!
Ole Bull returned to the country before Jenny Lind left it, and one
evening, when she was staying at the Stevens House, in Broadway by the
Bowling Green, she gave a dinner, and Ole Bull was among the guests.
After dinner he seated himself at the piano, and running over the
keys, struck into some wild minor chords, and began to sing Norwegian
songs. They were of a singular melancholy, but very beautiful, and the
company listened intently. Jenny Lind especially sat rapt in the
music, until, after one of the songs, she rose quietly, and moving
steadily across the floor as if carrying a jar of water upon her head
and fearing to spill a drop, she pushed Ole Bull from his chair, and
seating herself in his place at the piano, reproduced the entire song
with exquisite pathos.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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