THE MAGICIAN OF THE KEYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 204, 2 October 1909, Page 3

THE MAGICIAN OF THE KEYS.

SOME STORIES OF THE GREATEST LIVING PIANIST. The great Paderewski has received a rcuiark'ihl.v honor from the French Government, an honor bestowed on on. two oim-r inus.viuns-rLiszt and ilubinstcni. \\ uliuut pushing through the pulimmary grade ol Chevalier ol the Legion ui rumor, he has been presented with tile Lross ol Ollieer ui' the Order.

There is probably no more fascinating figure on the concert platform than this brilliant Pole, lie was boru Jn the midst of strife. His father was one of the unhappy Polish patriots who were sentenced to exile in Siberia, from wuwe he was only released when his healih wap shattered and his spirit broKen down.

lie died coon alter, but not before tlie world liud begun to sing the praises ol his son.

Of nearly every musician who ever appeared ill public etories are told ol hotv he showed iiis talent at an early age by climbing on the piano-stool and surprising his admiring relatives with a brilliant performance of some dillicult symphony. Xo such stories are told of l'ade.ewski, or, if they are, there is very little truth in Uieiti. lie had practically in. early tuition. Hie lirst lessons lie received from a travelling musician, and after that he and his sister had a lesson once a mouth from a very old and not over-capable teacher. JiU HANI) TO I'LAY OX. At twelve he went to Warsaw, wiiei'c lie really began his studies; and, like that oi most young musicians, his pat') to fame was anytning but rose-strewn. Some of his early experiences, amusing enough as reminiscences, were scarcely so amusing at the time.

He had been announced lo give a pe, •' foriuance in a small town in I'olauJ, but when 'he arrived there he found that no piano was to be had for love or money. Things looked desperate, when somebody remembered that the Governor had a piano, and an urgent application wag made for the loan of it. '

The Governor very amiably consented, and tile instrument was taken to the concert liall. When I'aderewski came to du a little practice before the conceit commenced, he was horrified to discover that the piano was in such a decrepit statu that when he struck tile keys some of the hammers would stick to the strings instead of falling back. After a few minutes of hopeless despair i'aderewski had a brilliant idea lie armed one of the attendants with a switch and stationed him at the side of the piano, with instructions to whip down tile refractory hammers whenever necessary. The audience were deliglifd

CRITICAL CRITIC'S, lie had already made a name for him self on the Continent before bo came to London. His reception here was, to pu it mildly, enthusiastic. To begin with, tile advance notices emphasised the fact that he was the "Lion of tile l'aris Season." The critics l wanted to judge for themselves, and went to his concert prejudiced, if anything, against him. Another reason given was the fact that it was an unpleasant day and everybody was feeling! I disagreeable. The resulL was that Paderew-ski was terribly nervous and the critics were terribly'critical.

Since then, however, much water lias gone under the bridges, and much welldeserved praise has gone into the newspapers, for after a few hearings the critics joined in the chorus of enthut siasm, ■ , : j Paderewski is now sure of a welcome wherever he cares to go. but there are certain towns in which lie can only with, difficulty be prevailed npi.ii 10 play, lier j lilt is one of them. At his liiU concert' there one of his pieces had an orehes I tral accompaniment. U war. enthusiastically applauded, and an encore* was called for again and again. THE -MAX WHO SXBKJiEI).

Paderewski decided to play a short solo. The conduetsr of the' orchestra considered that his efforts were being overlooked, and during the solo lie fr ilv » vent to a series of stentorian sneezes, to the extreme annoyance of Paderewski. For this he hits never really for. given the conductor, and lias even extended his disapproval to Berlin itself. Chicngo is another town on his black list, lie had promised to play at a concert there during tile great World's I'air. The management said he must play oil one of the pianos of an exhibiting firm, and Paderewski said lie would do nothing of the kind. The city seethed with excitement, and fnriiras newspaper discussion arose. The famous pianist carried his point but ho has never forgiven Chicago. A Manchester audience once annoyul 1 hini so much that he stopped in tin' middle of Chopin's Ballade in (> Minor and waited for the noise to subside. After a. concert in another northern town, where the enthusiasm was not so great as he expected, iir expressed Ins opinion very frankly to the authorities and has not yet been persuaded to re turn.—Pearson's Weekly.