Paderewski in Breslau

Lawrence Alma-Tadema made his portrait of Paderewski in summer 1891.[17] We may assume that the pianist looked exactly as he did when he visited Breslau for the first time in February 1891, when he was not yet famous. His vibrant artistic career had just begun and soon after he was to experience one of the most important moments in this career, his debut at the New York Music Hall (today the Carnegie Hall) on the 17th November 1891.[18]

Music fanatics in Breslau were certainly award of Paderewski’s talents as a composer through his popular Minuet in G Major, a piece that he played a lot. They were all the more curious to have a personal impression of the virtuoso pianist. Ignacy J. Paderewski made his first appearance in the capital of Lower Silesia on 6th February 1891 in the auditorium of the New Exchange on Graupenstraße (now: ul. Krupnicza).[19] The recital began at 19.30 and comprised works by Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin and Liszt, as well as three of the pianist’s own compositions played on a Bechstein. His expressive playing conquered the hearts of the audience and was received warmly by the critics. The well-known Breslau musician and scholar, Emil Bohnen, expressed his admiration for Paderewski’s masterly technique and his excellent interpretation in a long article on the title page of the “Breslauer Zeitung”.[20] Ernst Flügel, a recognised music critic, expressed his admiration in similar tones in the “Schlesische Zeitung” in the following summary: “Mr Paderewski is the most brilliant pianist that I have ever heard anywhere”.[21]

The report in the “Dziennik Poznański” (Poznan Newspaper), is also worth mentioning. It described the recital as a “true feast for the soul” and emphasised its extraordinary artistic significance. “We Poles, as witnesses to the triumph of one of our compatriots, are truly justified in our feelings of delight and pride; this triumph is all the greater for taking place in the midst of a prejudiced element.”[22]