Sensitive sense of hearing – Camille Saint-Saens

When he was a boy, the parents of famous French composer Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) took him to a concert. Before that, little Camille heard only single performances of piano and violin, but on that occasion he was listening a real symphony concert.

Later, in his memoires, Camille Saint-Saens wrote:

“The impression of the orchestra was entirely different and I listened with delight to a passage played by a quartet, when, suddenly, came a blast from the brass instruments—the trumpets, trombones and cymbals. I broke into loud cries, “Make them stop. They prevent my hearing the music.” They had to take me out.”

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Entertainer - Fritz Kreisler

Famous Austrian-born violinist and composer Friedrich 'Fritz' Kreisler (1875 –1962) was once asked by some rich American woman if he would be interested to perform at her party. For a certain fee, of course. Virtuoso answered with “yes”.

- “So, your performance at my party, how much will it cost me?” – asked the rich woman.

- “$5000.” – Kreisler answered.

- “Excellent!” – said the hostess. “But, I want you to know that I do not expect from you to chat with my guest and entertain them after your performance.”

- “Even better.” – said Kreisler. “In that case I will charge you with $2000”.

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Who is who? – Waldick Soriano

Waldick Soriano (1933-2008) was a very popular Brasilian singer-songwriter who recorder 83 albums in his career. However, his great career wasn't without a few incidents.

During one of his concerts, Waldick started singing one of his greatest hits – a song called "Eu Não Sou Cachorro Não" (I'm not a dog).

A few seconds after the song began, someone from the audience let a dog on the stage who had an inscription around his neck saying: „I'm not Waldick Soriano“.

Soriano was deeply offended with that and he began cursing at the audience. In excange, the audince started throwing all kinds of object towards him.

The concert turned into a battlefield and was cancelled.

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Wrong setup – George Enescu

Famous Romanian violinist, composer, pianist, conductor and teacher George Enescu (1881-1955) was once asked by a distinguished fellow compatriot to take care of musical career of his son, who had ambitions to become a violinist.

Unfortunately, that boy was not musically gifted but since Enescu owed a big favor to his friend, he agreed to do it.

He tried really hard to teach the boy how to play, but his efforts were without much success. Through his contacts he even managed to arrange him a debut concert in the Gavo Concert Hall in Paris.

Since he didn’t have the courage to ask of some pianist to accompany the unskilled violinist on the stage, Enesku took on himself that ungrateful task.

Before the concert, he asked the audience if there is anyone willing to assist him by turning pages for him while he is following the violinist. Alfred Cortot, at that time the most famous pianist in France, volunteered immediately.

As might have been assumed, the concert was a disaster.

Two days later, daily newspaper Le Figaro published a review of the concert. The article was brief, but eloquent:

”Last night, at the Gavo Concert Hall, a curious event took place. It was a violin and piano recital at which the man who played the piano should have been playing the violin and the man turning the pages should have been playing the piano, while the man playing the violin should have been turning the pages!”

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The Prince – George Friedrich Handel

Famous German composer George Friedrich Handel (1685-1759) spent many years as a composer and music teacher on the English court.

On one occasion, the Queen asked him what he thought of her son’s progress in learning to play cello, and when will her son become a true virtuoso.

Not knowing what to say about the performance of the future king, Handel said:

“Well, His Majesty is playing like a...prince!”

The Queen understood these words the way it suited her, so she decided that the Prince would perform in one part of Handel’s grand concert.

When Handel saw the future holder of the crown on the podium with a cello in his hands, he immediately disappeared from the concert hall.

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People's Artist – Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin

The famous Russian opera singer, Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin (1873-1938), was a very rich man - a real millionaire. But then came the October Revolution and almost everything he had was taken from him.

However, Chaliapin continued to appear on stage, but his fees were no longer the same. More precisely, instead of the money he was paid "in kind". For example, six month after the Revolution, the former millionaire would a get bag of flour, a little bit of ham and sugar, and a sack of potatoes after he held a concert.

This doesn’t mean that the new Soviet government did not respect him and appreciate him. On the contrary! Chaliapin was among the first people who were declared as People's Artists.

Even on that occasion, instead of monetary prize, he was awarded with – food.

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Good memory is a bad thing – Ignacy Jan Paderewski

While they listened a farewell concert of the famous Polish pianist, composer and politician Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), two musicians, in the audience, grumbled about him mercilessly:

- My God, this man can’t remember anything! Have you noticed just how many notes he forgot to play! - whispered the first.

- Poor man! - added another musician. – It is not so bad that he has forgotten some things. The things he remembers are played awful.

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Interesting Advice

Vladimir Horowitz

 

As a young pianist, Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989), who afterwords became famous musician, met an already famous fellow of his Artur Schnabel (1882-1951).

Knowing that he will without doubt dedicate his life to concert appearances, Horowitz asked Schnabel to give him advice on what to do when he comes to those parts of composition that are the hardest to play.

“What to do when you start loosing it? Start to mug! Make pinching and painful expressions ... It will certainly draw the attention of the audience from the music, “advised him Schnabel.

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