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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Insurance – Leopold Godowsky, Jr.

Leopold Godowsky Jr. (1900-1983), American violinist,  inventor of first practical color transparency film (Kodachrome) and son of the famous pianist and composer of the same name, once asked his sister to drive his children, three-year-old twins, to his home.

“Please drive carefully”, Leopold warned his sister, “as I have two violins worth fifty thousand dollars in the luggage compartment”.

“You're so insensitive!” – his sister said. “Which am I supposed to watch first, the twins or the fiddles?”

“The twins, of course” – said Godowsky. “The violins are very well insured”.

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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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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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