Interrupted Mass – Antonio Lucio Vivaldi

Because of his red hair, famous Venetian Baroque composer and priest Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was nicknamed The Red Priest (il Prete Rosso).

Although he managed successfully to balance his occupations, as a priest and as a musician, on one occasion Vivaldi found himself before the ecclesiastical court.

Why?

Because he felt a sudden wave of inspiration while holding a Mass, and he interrupted it and went to take a paper and a pen.  At the dismay of other priests and believers who came to attend mass, he had to immediately write down his musical thoughts.

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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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Hands are not sufficient – Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) once bet with his older colleague, compatriot Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), in a crate of best champagne. This bet was some kind of playing competition. They both were supposed to play some difficult composition that Mozart wrote on that day, and see who of them will be able to play it to the end.

Haydn agreed and the notes were placed on the spinet.

Just after a few strokes on the piano, Haydn saw that he wasn't up to it. He slowed down, and eventually stopped playing. This was because, while his two hands were playing at the both ends of the piano, he was supposed to press a key in the middle.

He tried to figure out how to do it, but he was out of ideas.

Then Mozart took his place and started playing.

When he got to that "improbable stroke", Mozart bowed his head and pressed the key - with his nose.

 

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Soul trapped in a violin – Niccolo Paganini

Even when he was still alive, people often claimed that famous Italian violinist Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) has sold his soul to the devil in exchange for a gift of unmistakable playing.

However, Paganini always denied this and claimed that his soul is, in fact, trapped in a violin.

On one occasion, when Paganini’s precious violin began to curve, he realized that he would have to take it to some constructor of musical instruments who will repair it.

Since he didn’t wanted to lose the violin out of his sight, he watched carefully the repairing process.

Bathed in sweat, trembling, Paganini waited for the outcome of repair.

Each time he heard the sound of tools and creaking of wood, Paganini started to cry and sob.

“My God, this is as if you’re drilling my womb with a chisel.” – cried the famous violinist.

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The name – Bob Dylan

In 1962, young American singer-songwriter Robert Allen Zimmerman officially changed his name to Bob Dylan. Allegedly, he did it in the memory of one of his literary idols, Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953).

Robert was 21 when he done that, and he was just 12 when Dylan Thomas died.

Later, at the peak of his fame, he recalled that event and acknowledged that he had been influenced by Dylan Thomas’ poetry, but:

“I didn't change my name in honor of Dylan Thomas. That's just a story. I've done more for Dylan Thomas than he's ever done for me. Look how many kids are probably reading his poetry now because they heard that story”

Regarding his change of name, Bob Dylan also said:

"You're born, you know, the wrong names, wrong parents. I mean, that happens. You call yourself what you want to call yourself. This is the land of the free."

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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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When, not how - Sir Malcolm Sargent

An acquaintance of Sir Malcolm Sargent (1895-1967), famous British conductor, asked him once what does a musician has to know in order to play cymbals in the orchestra.

"Practically nothing,” Sargent replied, "He just has to know when".

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Bagpipes or a pig? – Thomas Beecham and Alfred Hitchcock

A fan of the famous English conductor Thomas Beecham (1879-1961) asked him once what music instrument would he recommend to her baby boy.

"The bagpipes," Beecham suggested, “because they sound exactly the same when you have finished learning them as when you start learning them”.

 

 

 

Famous English film director Alfred Hitchcock (1899 - 1980) also made a funny joke about bagpipes. He said:

"I understand that the inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man carrying an indignant, asthmatic pig under his arm. Unfortunately, the man-made sound never equalled the purity of sound achieved by the pig."

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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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Statue – Gioachino Rossini

Parisians, fans of the famous Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868), were so enthusiastic about his operas that they decided to raise a statue with his image while he was still alive.

They collected twenty thousand francs and started to confer which sculptor should they hire to do it.

However, Rossini arrived at that moment and interrupted their argument with the following words:

"Give me the twenty thousand, and I'll stand on the pedestal myself!”

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No one like me – Artur Rodzinski

While he rested on summer vacation, the conductor of New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Artur Rodzinski (1892-1958), listened to the radio. Classical music was on the program, and his favorite work, Shostakovich's “Symphony No. 5 in D minor ".

Rodzinski carefully listened to the performance...

"Well, well, this guy really knows how to lead the melody, " Rodzinski noted.

"But in any case, he is not very creative nor original as an artist, since he is trying to emulate some of my best interpretations of Shostakovich", angrily concluded the musician.

When the performance ended, he relaxed.  

The announcer said that the audience had the opportunity to hear the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Rodzinski.

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Letter of recommendation – Giacomo Meyerbeer

In 1839, a young German composer went to Paris in search of glory.

In Paris he met a prominent musician Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864) who kindly received him and patiently listened to all of his compositions. After that, Meyerbeer wrote a letter of recommendation to the Director of the Paris Opera.

In the letter, which was found many years later, Meyerbeer wrote: "Please take this imbecile off my hands!"

And do you know who was this so-called “imbecile”?

Richard Wagner, the famous German composer.

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Cure for neurosis – Gerald Berners and Robert Helpman

Ballet artist Robert Helpman (1909-1986) was very honored when he was invited to an afternoon visit to the house of English baron Gerald Berners (1883-1950), musician who was otherwise known as an eccentric man.

Mr. Helpman was received politely and escorted to the salon of the beautiful castle, not far from Oxford. To his immense surprise, in the saloon he came across – a horse.

Then, as if nothing unusual was happening, he was served with tea. Baron Berners asked Helpman whether he is drinking his tea with lemon or milk, and then he fed his horse with sugar cubes.

There was no one to explain to the startled guest what was happening. Finally, the Baron said that the horse ate enough and that the servant could escort him to the barn... Not long after, Helpman also left the baron’s home.

After some time, Baron and ballet dancer met again. Unable to restrain himself, Robert Helpman asked him:

- I do not understand. Why was a horse present in your luxurious salon during my visit to your castle?

Baron gave him an unusual explanation:

- You see, when people see a horse in the saloon, they immediately become nervous. I like that because I myself am a very nervous man. But when I see that my guests are nervous, I relax.

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Shame – Arnold Schoenberg

Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951), known as one of the creators of atonal music, was furious when Thomas Mann published his novel “Doctor Faustus”. Specifically, the main protagonist of the novel is Adrian Leverkühn, a composer who "sells his soul to the devil” to invent a new music technique like the one Arnold Schoenberg did...

After the publication of the novel, Schoenberg, in anger, wrote an open letter for the public in which he accused Thomas Mann of plagiarism. But Mann managed to defend himself and the novel by saying that Schoenberg had a great influence on him.

Nevertheless, the composer was convinced that Leverkühn, the hero of the novel, ruined his reputation in cultural circles, and complained about it for the rest of his life.

- If Thomas Mann only hinted to me that he intends to write a novel about a composer, in just a few hours I could have invented a completely different music technique, just for him! - Arnold Schoenberg used to say.

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Always respect your host – Sergei Rachmaninoff and Arthur Rubinstein

On one occasion, famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982), hosted a dinner in honor of his esteemed colleague and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943).

As it was expected, everyone was talking about music.

During dinner, Russian composer pointed out that, in his opinion, Grieg’s Piano Concerto is the most beautiful piano concerto ever written.

 

- How fortunate! - Arthur Rubinstein added happily - I just made a record of me playing Grieg Piano Concerto!

Sergei Rachmaninoff received this news with enthusiasm. He asked from his host to play him that record. After that, with closed eyes, he listened with great care Rubinstein‘s interpretation of Grieg’s music. At some point, Rachmaninoff suddenly opened his eyes, as if he woke up, and exclaimed:

- Rubinstein, you must have played it on a broken piano.

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Kiss of God – Luciano Pavarotti

Celebrated Italian tenor, Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007), was known for not missing any opportunity he had to flirt with beautiful women.

Famous actress Isabella Rossellini, daughter of famous actress Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini, in an interview with Pavarotti, on a show broadcasted on Italian television, said that Luciano has such a beautiful voice as if his vocal chords were kissed by God.

"If this is true," Luciano said, unable to restrain himself, "then God kissed you all over your body."

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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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Quick Recovery – Dave Swarbrick

The famous British violinist, Dave Swarbrick (born 5 April 1941), was stunned when read in 1999, news in the "Daily Telegraph". They wrote that he was dead and put an obituary for him.

But he was even more surprised when he read the next day’s editorial correction in the same newspaper.

Daily Telegraph wrote: "Mr. Swarbrick - on whose death our newspaper wrote yesterday - has recovered remarkably.”

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Fear - Arnold Schoenberg!

Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg (13 September 1874 – 13 July 1951) suffered from triskaidekaphobia, fear of the number thirteen.

This artist (father of atonal music, as he was called) was convinced that he would die on the thirteenth day of the month, so on each such day he stayed at home, taking care of what he drank and what he eats, and sometimes he did not even get up out of bed...

 

This was the case and on 13 July 1951.

Convinced that his end was near, Schoenberg was just loafing on that day. Late that night, his wife finally said that the clock struck midnight and that it was 14 July, and went to bring him some tea.  When she returned to the room, she found her husband dead.

He died, however, on 13 July. The clock in the bedroom was not accurate. When she found him, it was 5 minutes until midnight.

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