You will undoubtedly have received my letter from Lübeck some days
ago. I came almost against my will, and quite unexpectedly, to
Berlin. It happened in this way: While in Kiel I received an
invitation from the court of Mecklenburg–Schwerin (the Princess of
Orleans is a sister of the grand duke), to play there; and knowing
that I intended visiting Russia, the grand duchess promised me a
letter of introduction to her sister the empress. After writing my
last letter to you in Lübeck I started for Schwerin. Although the
distance is short (we left at one o’clock in the morning), we did
not arrive there until five o’clock the next morning, as we lost
our way on account of the heavy snow–fall. But that did not tire
me much. I lay on furs, made up comfortably as a bed.
After the rehearsal, and some hours after my arrival, the grand
duke called and thanked me for coming to Schwerin. One could not
meet a more charming person. At night the court was present. After
the performance the duke came to my dressing–room with tears in
his eyes. He invited me to the palace the following morning, and
said, “My wife was much moved during your whole performance; she
_must_ see and talk with you.” The next day I had an audience that
lasted three quarters of an hour.... The duchess told me she had
just written to her father, the King of Prussia, of the sensation
I had made, and asked me to go to Berlin and play there,
suggesting that it might be of benefit to me in Russia.... She
asked me what she could do for me.... Her husband was also
exceedingly kind. After the concert I was awakened by a serenade.
The next day the ducal family attended the rehearsal; in the
evening the duchess gave me letters to Berlin and Russia, and at
the conclusion of the performance the orchestra presented me with
a laurel wreath.
He went to Berlin and made his visit to the intendant, who was
offensively patronizing, and appointed an hour the day following for
another call at the Opera House. Ole Bull came. “Where is your violin?”
“In the case.” “And where is the case?” “At the hotel.” “But did I not
ask you to play for me?” “Excuse me, sir, I could not think you were in
earnest. I play either for honor or for money, and in this case neither
is in question.” “But it is impossible for me to present you to his
majesty without having heard you.” “If the request of the grand duchess
is not a sufficient recommendation to his majesty her father, I am quite
content to leave the city,”—and he did leave Berlin at once.
He next gave four concerts in four days in Königsberg, and, being
crowned with laurel, which he tried to decline, he responded by playing
“Heil dir ein Siegenkranz.” In Riga he gave four concerts in five days.
In St. Petersburg he had some difficulties to encounter with another
intendant; but shortly after his arrival he played at the Imperial
Theatre. The empress, the imperial family, and the court, were present.
On his entrance he was warmly received, and the “Polacca Guerriera”
created the greatest enthusiasm. The applause constantly interrupted the
orchestra, and the musicians were obliged to wait patiently the pleasure
of the audience. This applause Ole Bull acknowledged, when called before
the curtain, by playing the Russian National Hymn. This created another
furor, and he was recalled again and again, the applause being led by
the imperial family. A critic wrote:—
I never witnessed such a universal ovation; Ole Bull’s tones have
the power of melting the hearts even of the envious. When he
commenced, he played to both enemies and friends, but he ended by
playing to friends only. He has, by his personal worth, made
himself universally beloved here.
He gave three concerts in the Great Theatre to crowded houses, although
the usual prices were quadrupled. He played also in private for the
empress, who presented him with a ring—an emerald in a setting of one
hundred and forty diamonds. The emperor sent him an autograph letter.
Being invited to Moscow he gave five concerts there, and received many
jewels from the nobility of the city, among them a valuable ring from
the Princess Galizin.