United States or Nauru ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
At the present moment the Society seems more exclusively French than ever; and the influence of M. Vincent d'Indy and the school of Franck is predominant.
To Frederick's puzzlement, every one of Franck's utterances was greeted by a shout of laughter. "Franck is a genuine genius," whispered Willy to Frederick, while filling a glass with Chianti, "and the greatest eccentric in the world. Franck," he cried, "didn't you come to America without a cent of money?" "For what does one need money?" Franck rejoined, at great leisure, with a naïve smile.
Franck made his first attempt at a dramatic work in 1851, with a libretto entitled "The Farmer's Man." As he must keep constantly at his teaching during the day, he devoted the greater part of the night to composition. He worked so hard that the opera, begun in December 1851, was finished in two years, but he paid dearly for all this extra labor.
By the infernal they'll kill themselves!" "Franck, let me out." "I'll go with you, Commander." But the volunteer was not equipped. Grantline would not wait. The duty man turned to his panel. The volunteer shoved a weapon at Grantline. Grantline jammed on his helmet, took the weapon. He moved the few steps into the air chamber which was the first of the three pressure locks.
I was very much astonished, therefore, when Franck calmly pitied the King of Saxony for having had his room 'bedaubed' by Bendemann!
This Franck was the brother of the better-known Hermann Franck, now the head of the Franco-German bookselling firm, which had originally belonged to my brother-in-law, Avenarius. He sent me back my work with the very natural remark that it was out of the question to expect the Parisian public to understand or appreciate my articles, especially at such a critical moment.
Regarding the more famous painters of the so- called Dusseldorf School, whom I met frequently through the medium of Tannhauser, it was not quite so easy to come to a conclusion, as I was to a great extent influenced by the fame attached to their well-known names; but here again Franck startled me with opportune and conclusive reasons for disappointment.
Finally Franck's story was extracted from him. It was by painting the portrait of the head-steward that he had lived so handsomely on the steamer and had landed on American soil with fifty dollars in his pocket, though a day later not a cent of the fifty dollars was left. "Money's a nuisance," said Franck. Up to this point a wholesome-looking waitress, in white cap and apron, had been serving.
The mother had died some years previously, and there was no one left to give information as to the terrible occurrence, which, so far as I know, has never to this day been cleared up. Franck had, out of forgetfulness, left a map of London behind on his visit to me; this I kept, as I did not know his address, and it is still in my possession.
While the collection was being made there was music very good local talent two violin soli played by a young fellow, from one of the small neighbouring châteaux, whom we all knew well, and the "Panus Angelicus" of César Franck, very well sung by the wife of the druggist.
Word Of The Day