"GREAT AMONG THE GREATEST"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 73, 15 November 1940, Page 12

"GREAT AMONG THE GREATEST"

Friedman Taths About Paderewshi

6c E will live for ever in the memory of mankind... great among the greatest." This tribute to Paderewski was paid by Ignaz Friedman, fellow Pole, in a broadcast from 2YA celebrating the birthday of the musician patriot on November 6. Friedman was interviewed by Karl Atkinson and the text of the interview follows: Friedman: I am very glad to be given the opportunity of paying a modest tribute to the great artist and distinguished man. Paderewski’s career, is, in my opinion, the most interesting in the history of music. His combined genius of a musician and a statesman gives a personality unique in the world. As a leader of his country, he conceived the best idea, or rather vision of the future of his Fatherland. Atkinson: Will you outline in brief the interesting features of his character? Friedman: Well, it is rather difficult to do it impromptu, it would take hours to do that. I will try, however, to mention a few of the highlights. Paderewski, as a man of 29, went to Vienna for the second time, to his teacher and friend, Leschetizky, to take lessons from him, in spite of the fact that his career and

fame as an outstanding artist and composer was already established. He started all over again to improve his art, to make it really great. His material position wasn’t very good, he had to struggle, and his great teacher gave him lessons without fee, arranging even for him to appear at concerts and recitals. Two years later Paderewski had gone very far, and his miraculous career became second to none in the history of music. I would like to point out that there was nothing casual in this career, nothing due to clever advertisement. He earned his fame by hard work .and his genius. We should remember that a career which runs for half a century, without diminishing for a single moment, is not faked, and can’t be accounted for by anything else except pure genius. Atkinson: Did you ever come in personal contact with Paderewski? Friedman: Yes. The first time was when I was nine. My teacher took me to him and I played for him, should I rather say, before him. I met him years later in Australia, when he was on his way to New Zealand. Finally, five years ago, I sent a cable to Paderewski congratulating him on his 75th birthday, and I received in reply a very nice letter. Atkinson: Would you mind _ telling us more about his personality? Friedman: Not at all. Paderewski is certainly a_ striking personality. His talents are universal. Had he not been a great virtuoso, he would have become famous as a composer, and it is rather a pity he didn’t sacrifice more time for composing. He is one of the best speakers I have ever heard, and has an excellent command of five languages. He has been for half a century an unofficial vambassador of his country, and his services in this connection are immense. He would have been a very good and talented journalist, and he is an excellent billiards and bridge player. He is a man of a great and good heart, and never was a man in need turned away without help. He spent nearly all of his great fortune, about 7,000,000 dollars, in the cause of Poland. I would like to finish my short tribute to this great man and artist by saying that in the history of Poland he will live for ever as the greatest patriot of his Fatherland; he will live for ever in the memory of mankind and generations to come as a great musician, great among the greatest.