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17 January 1832: A waning Paganini plays for a grateful but declining public at Leeds Music Hall

Leeds Mercury. 1832/01/21. Paganini. Leeds. Get it:

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Excerpt

We have this week experienced a treat we did not anticipate. For this, we, and our fellow townsmen, are indebted to Messrs Sykes and Sons, who, at a great risk, engaged this highly-gifted violinist during his sojourn at Liverpool. A press of important matter compels us to be brief in our notice of this spirited undertaking. On Tuesday evening the first concert was given to the most respectable and numerous audience which has graced our music hall for some years past. The extra accommodations provided for this occasion were of a superior kind, and reflect great credit upon the projectors. Messrs Walton and Kirk sang in a very superior manner, and were deservedly applauded. But the “observed of all observers” was the great master. On his entrance he was greeted with immense applause, which his admirable performances caused to be often repeated. Of them we find it impossible to speak in sufficiently high terms. His best praise is the absolute ignorance of the best musicians as to the mode in which he produces such effects. They are astonished at everything he does. We can particularise only one or two of his efforts which struck us as evincing his powers. The first was his variations on the song, “Hope told a flattering tale;” the second on Wednesday evening, the “Prayer of Moses” in Pietro l’Eremita. His exquisitely plaintive tones in the latter became even intensely painful to the auditory, such was the effect produced. It is impossible without hearing him to form a distinct idea of his merits. The second concert was not so well attended as we could have expected or wished, yet the audience was by no means a small one.

To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

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Comment

Comment

Margaret Drinkall misdates this to January 12th (Drinkall 2013). I think the mayor was William Hey II rather than Thomas Tennant. The typo Pietro l’EremitO may be meaningful or not. Which building was this music hall? Here’s Paganini’s Hope told a flattering tale / Nel cor più non mi sento:

I’m not sure I’ve correctly identified the other.

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Original

PAGANINI. – We have this week experienced a treat we did not anticipate-viz., the performances of SIGNOR PAGANINI, in this town. For this, we, and our fellow townsmen, are indebted to Messrs. Sykes and Sons, who, at a great risk, engage this highly-gifted violinist, during his sojourn at Liverpool. A press of important matter compels us to be brief (although reluctantly so) in our notice of this spirited undertaking. On Tuesday evening the first Concert was given to the most respectable and numerous audience which has graced our Music-Hall for some years past. The extra accommodations provided for this occasion were of a superior kind, and reflect great credit upon the projectors. Messrs. Walton and Kirk sang in a very superior manner, and were deservedly applauded. But the “observed of all observers” was the great master. On his entrance he was greeted with immense applause, which his admirable performances caused to be often repeated. Of them we find it impossible to speak in sufficiently high terms. His best praise is the absolute ignorance of the best musicians as to the mode in which he produces such effects. They are astonished at every thing he does. We can particularise only one or two of his efforts which struck us as evincing his powers.-The first was his variations on the song, “Hope told a flattering tale;” the second on Wednesday evening, the “Prayer of Moses” in Pietro l’Eremito.” His exquisitely plaintive tones in the latter became even intensely painful to the auditory, such was the effect produced. It is impossible without hearing him to form a distinct idea of his merits. In the course of Tuesday evening the Mayor announced to the audience that Messrs. Sykes had induced Paganini to accept a fresh engagement to perform the next evening, and that the Signor would make a donation of twenty guineas to the fund for the relief of the poor, to which Messrs. Sykes would make the liberal and munificent addition of fifty pounds. This statement was deservedly received with loud and continued applause. The second Concert was not so well attended as we could have expected or wished, yet the audience was by no means a small one. On the whole, our musical friends must have felt themselves much indebted to the spirit of enterprise of Messrs. Sykes, who, we trust, will realize an adequate remuneration for their great exertions.

403 words.

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