Frederic Chopin, v. 1 (of 2)

the guest of the physician, Dr. Kelbich. That most agreeable man requested him to give a conc

est programme, without the assistance of any other artists. Then, however, pianists rarely played less than two pieces with orchestral accompan

yciechowski arrived, he bade a grateful farewell to his hospitable host and pursued

November,

Parents a

mund?s "Alpine King" was being performed. You will see the piece some day. The public admired the scenery more than we did. I thought the acting pretty good. The day before yesterday "Maurer and Schlosser" was given, but not in first

ly seen him yet, for we were unfortunately out when he called. We had first gone to the Ressource, where, by invitation o

and pleasure. This made Hellwig feel a little uneasy, and I was pressed to take his place in the evening. Schnabel threw his influence into the scale, and asked me so heartily, that I could not deny the dear old man his wish. He is a great friend of Herr Elsner?s, which means much to me; but I told Schnabel at once that I only played for his sake, that for weeks I ha

t the composition I did not catch a syllable. Titus, whose ears are everywhere, and who is always active on

the gentlemen to whom I had letters of introduction. This Herr Scharff was wonderfully kind and obliging to Titus and myself. He took us all over Breslau, went with us to the suburbs of the town, wrote down our names as guests at the Ressource, and procured us v

s, on a theme from the "Mutes of Portice." There was an overture, and some dancing to conclu

u, Herr K?hler; he promised to show me his organ. I met, also, a certa

me; but none of the Germans, except Schnabel, whose face beams with real deligh

ise or to blame me, and connoisseurs were not quite certain whether my music was really good, or only seemed so. A gentleman came up

but when the dancing began, about ten, we went quietly home. I am

t in Breslau. She thanked me very much for the "delightful surprise," as she expressed

sang-though very indifferently-Figaro

y could only judge what a composer Elsner was after hearing his Coronation Mass. We leave for Dresden to-morrow at two o?cl

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November

nner at which the company were all Poles. I have crept away to write to you, for the po

men to whom Scholtz had given us letters of introduction

an entrée for me. The "Mutes" was to be performed the same evening at the theatre. The choice was difficult; but one must always be polite to ladies, so

x, and was carried to the house where the musical entertainment was to take place. The spirit of mi

y compliments, and led me into a room where a number of ladies were sitting at eight large tables. No flashing of diamonds met my ga

e gentlemen, the latter would have been in a sorry plight. The only resource left them would have

ompanied her. With true artistic politeness Rastrelli introduced me to Signor Rubini, who, with much affability, promised me a letter to his brother, the famous tenor. I do not need anything more for Milan. Yesterday, Rubini kindly took me to the Catholic Church, where a mass was being performed of Morlacchi?s (bandmaster here.) This refined and agreeable man remembered me at once

ipped away to the opera; but only arrived at the commencement of the fif

s. I have a great respect for him. Klengel asked me where I lived, and begged me to come and see him early the next day, as he could not go back with me then. He advised me to play in public, b

uszak?s, talked about a concert, but thoug

e rest. The King, with his court, were present; they were, the same morning, at the service in the church, where a mass, by Baron Miltitz, was performed, under the direction of Morlacchi. The voices of Messrs. Sassarole,

Klengel, to whom I am sure to play to-morrow. I like to t

e Picture Gallery again with the greatest interest; if I lived here I should go every week; t

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ovember 2

g, and did not return till night. When Klengel came to know me better as a musician, that is, when I had played my Concerto to him, he said that my playing stro

to find out whether, if I stayed four days longer in Dresden, I could give a concert without any very burdensome preparations. Klengel assured me afterwards that he did not do this for me, but for Dresden, and that he should like to force me into giving a concert. He came t

took me with him to the soirée at Frau Niesiolowska?s. I also called on Frau Szczerbinin, but I had stayed so long at Frau Niesiolowska?s that by the time I arrived the co

incesses entered: Princess Augusta, only daughter of the late King Frederic Augustus, surnamed "the Just,"

l the next day; the Countess Dobrzycka will send the others after me to Vienna. I gave her my address there. The letters were addressed to the Queen of the Sicilies, at Naples, and Princes

bye and bye. At Frau Niesiolowska?s he drank my health in champagne. The lady o

, as anyone who knows anything

ienna, which we hope to reac

o other pianist had made such an agreeable impression on h

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ecember 1

first I have received for a month, that is since I parted f

is called-charged a gulden and some kreuzers for an

me when I was still among you; it seemed to me as if I were sitting at the piano, and Celinski standing opposite to me, looking at M. Zwyn

ere are many charm

he would print neither the Sonata, nor the

etka is in Stuttgart with her parents, and that, p

d cheap here. An English Admiral is occupying them at present, but he leaves to-day. Admiral! And I am admired.76 So the house is a desirable one, especially as the mistress, a handsome, widowed baroness, still young,

apartments all the more agreeable, for she likes Poles, and b

kable man; although too ill to go out he gives lessons at his house. He spits blood, which has weakened him very much, and yet he talks of a concert. The poor sufferer told me that the newsp

vised me to play without honorarium. Dr. Malfatti77 welcomed me as warmly as if I had been a relation. When he read my name on my visiting card, he hastened to me, embraced me, and said, that Herr Wladislaw Ostrowski had written to him about me, and that if he could be of any service he was ready to do anything for me. He said, besides, that

me another equally agreeable acquaintance, who took a li

ave you been studying diligently?" He has arranged another Overture

irée there to-morrow, "en petit cercle des amateurs." I shall pay a visit afterwards to Countess Rosalie Rzewuska, who receives between nin

I had come for money. He handed me a paper, which notified that I was to go to the police

any further notice of the letter, said, it was very agreeable to him to become acquainted with an artist of such distinction as myself; but he could not advise me to give a concert he

all sure whether it would pay to make a public appearance, for I had not yet called upon any influentia

I took my leave, regretting that I had robbed him of his

, Lachner, yet, as I have not roo

man will quit the Baroness?s rooms to-day. "As soon as we are in our own house," says Titus, who always tries to make me assume the position of the haug

people. To-day I am going to the Embassy, where I hope to see Baron Meindorf, whom I shall ask for first, o

of the month for the journey to Italy, in case my concerts turn out badly. The theatre is my heaviest expense; but this I regret the less as Fr?ulein Heinefetter79 and Herr Wildt80 sing nearly every evening, and are

the time come when Lafont shall accompany me? Does the ques

ards a concert. A propos of that, do you advise me to play the F minor or E minor concerto? Würfel thinks my F minor concerto more beautiful than Hummel?s in A flat major, which has just been published by Haslinger. Herr Haslinger is shrewd, trying in a cautious, subtle way, to induce me t

re given, as the nicest and best place for my concert. But I must first obtain the pe

I am doing well, and I hope, through God, who sent Malfatti to b