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the digitization of several pianophile albums is underway; and, a fuss
Current mood:  amused
Category: Music
Greetings,
Images of albums containing newspaper articles, recital programmes, interviews and photographs, primarily with and about de Pachmann, Busoni, Cortot, and Rosenthal, have been added to the photos section [with the peculiar effect of rearranging the contents of the photos section]. Some of the other pianists included in these albums are Leschetizky, Liszt, Anton Rubinstein, Hans von Bulow, Sauer, d'Albert, Hofmann - and their various pupils and proteges. The items primarily date from the 1820s through the 1920s.
There also is a stack of 213 pages of unsorted items.
A project is underway to get this material scanned and online at http://www.michaelsayers.com/greatpianists.html. While many biographies for these pianists are available, much of the source material is not readily accessible. Having this available will make it possible for those interested to achieve a more thorough estimate on these pianists.
Here is a delectable and amusing morsel (entirely unrelated to pianists), whose appearance was on the backside of "Learning Secrets of Busoni's Art":
NOISY STUDENT AT OPERA MAKES FUSS
Disturbance at Selma Kurz Performance in Vienna Ends Amusingly in Courts
Musical America, October 22, 1910
VIENNA, Oct. 3 - A curious case, possible perhaps only in Vienna, came up in one of the city's district courts this last week. It had its origin in the Imperial Royal Opera House on the evening of May 11 last. Selma Kurtz was Singing Antonia's coloratura aria in the third act of "Hoffmann's Tales" at the time and all were listening spellbound to the prima donna's dulcet notes, when there resounded, at a particular piano passage, a loud blowing of the nose which proceeded from a young conservatory student. Enraged looks were flung like daggers at the noisy youth, and a gentleman, a personal friend of the singer, felt obliged to reprove the young man, designating his actions as a "knavish trick". An excited dispute began, and, when cries for order arose, the two were forced to desist, only, however, to continue the quarrel in the dressing room after close of the opera. Finally cards were exchanged and further proceedings in court threatened. The affair was destined to assume still greater proportions, for a few days later the father of the young student received a letter from the legal representative of Miss Kurz, in which the young man was accused of having intentionally disturbed the performance by his loud action and subsequent noisy behavior, which caused a most unpleasant sensation in the opera house. Furthermore, the young man lost his scholarship at the conservatory in consequence, not to mention being barred from receipt of the free tickets of admission to the opera given to conservatory students. For the injury accruing to him, the young man entered a complaint against Miss Kurz, whose legal representative promptly retaliated in kind.
The proceedings in court last week began with a sad disappointment to all the musical aspirants present, as Miss Kurtz, being absent on a starring tour and just then in Paris, did not appear. It developed later on that she had, in fact, nothing to do with the matter, for which her legal representative assumed the entire responsibility. A number of witnesses were called and a letter written by the student read in court, in which he asserted his intense admiration of Miss Kurz, and said that it was probably owing to the applause of himself and his colleagues that she had risen so rapidly to popularity [great laughter], and that it was quite out of the question that he had intentionally disturbed her singing. The case was finally adjourned without any result.
Miss Kurz is to appear again at the Hofoper for the first time after her leave next Friday as Violetta, and it is probable that all conservatory students will be careful to use their handkerchiefs noiselessly.
Best Wishes,
Michael Sayers
1:23 PM
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