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September 2009

  
   
Der Sturm im Wasserglas
 
 
Aus der Musical World 16. Sept. 1871, S. 594, über ein Konzert im Covent Garden Theatre:
 
 
"Madame Wolff was the pianist, and essayed to play the Concert-stück [von Carl Maria von Weber] without book. She came, however, to speedy and conspicuous grief."
 
 
Eine solche Kritik an ihrem Spiel wollte Julia Wolff, die Pianistin, offenkundig nicht hinnehmen. Die Musical World bekam also Post in der Sache – jedoch nicht von Julia Wollf selbst:
 
 
Musical World 30. Sept. 1871, S. 625:
  
 
"Sir, – We are instructed by Madame Julia Wolff, pianist, to call your attention to an article in the number of the Musical World of the 16th instant, in which you falsely allege 'that essaying to play the Concertstück, she came to speedy and conspicuous grief.' As this is untrue and libellous, we must insist upon an ample withdrawal and apology in your next number; and unless it then appears, we shall commence an action at law against you for the recovery of damages, without any further notice. – We are, Sir, your most obedient servants.
 
Evans, Laing & Eagles."
  
 
Auch im 19. Jahrhundert dürfte ein anwaltliches Schreiben inklusive Klageandrohung durchaus Eindruck gemacht haben. Die Musical World entsprach also der Forderung nach einem Widerruf. Ebd.:
 
 
"With reference to the above letter, we have first to correct the quotation made. We actually said this: – 'Madame Wolff was the pianist, and essayed to play the Concert-stück without book. She came, however, to speedy and conspicuous grief.' The italicised words sufficiently interpret the sentence following them, which refers exclusively to what we took to be a failure of memory, and in no sense to Madame Wolff's ability as a pianist. On the fact that her memory did fall we where convinced at the time of writing; but as Madame Wolff assures us that it did not, and, by implication, that Mr. Sullivan had no cause to place his own book on her desk, we can only confess ourselves deceived, and tender the apology which she requires."
 
 
Damit jedoch gab sich Julia Wolff nicht zufrieden. Musical World 7. Okt. 1871, S. 625:
  
 
"When, last week, we interposed an apologetic shield between our Publisher and Mdme. Julia Wolff, we accounted him safe, because the thing was done handsomely. He has, however, received a second letter from Mdme. Wolff's solicitors, which we subjoin: [...]
 
 
Sir, – Our client, Madame Julia Wolff, is not, nor are we, satisfied with the apology you have inserted in your publication of the 30th ult[timo = des letzten Monats]. You have therein stated that Madame Julia Wolff assured you that her memory did not fail her. She has never made any such assertion. Her memory for a moment did fail her in playing without book; and Mr. Sullivan did place the music before her. But what Madame Wolff complains of is the sweeping and libellous allegation that 'she came to speedy and conspicuous grief',' which you know to be untrue, her performance having been applauded in the highest degree.
 
Unless we hear from you by Friday morning next at 11 o'clock that you will insert a proper apology in your next number, to be approved by us, we shall issue a writ against you.
 
We remain, Sir, Your most obelient Servants,
  
Evans, Laing & Eagles."
  
 
Dieses zweite Schreiben führte in der Redaktion der Musical World offenkundig zu Ratlosigkeit - ebenso, wie beim heutigen Leser. Was genau wollte denn die Pianistin, die einerseits zugab, aufgrund einer Gedächtnislücke "zu spät" gewesen zu sein, sich aber andererseits gegen die Ausformulierung des Vorgangs währte? Ebd.:
 
 
"Madame Wolff, speaking through her legal representatives last week, denied that she has come to 'conspicuous grief;' and as the phrase applied, in our criticism, exclusively to a failure of memory, we took the failure of memory to be exclusively denied. No other charge, indeed, was preferred. Now, Mdme. Wolff through her legal representatives, by admitting the 'failure of memory', justifies all we intended to convey, and renders our published apology superfluous. We are at a loss to know what further explanation she may require; but if her advisers will draw up a statement which she and they may regard as more suitable to the occasion, we shall be happy to print it in our next issue."
 
 
'Wir drucken alles, was sie wollen - Hauptsache, die leidige Angelegenheit ist vorüber...' So wirkt das letzte Statement der Zeitschrift. Soweit erkennbar, beließen es Julia Wollf und ihre Anwälte nun dabei – weder findet sich ein weiteres Schreiben, noch eine Notiz über ein juristisches Vorgehen gegen die Zeitschrift. Die Sache – eigentlich eine Kleinigkeit – hatte ohnehin schon genug Wellen geschlagen. Selbst die Signale für die musikalische Welt berichteten nun davon, 1871, S. 663:
 
 
"Die Clavierspielerin Mme. Julia Wolff, welcher neulich in einem Rivière'schen Promenaden-Concerte im Covent-Theater zu London ein Gedächtnißfehler bei irgend einer Production passirte (es war wohl das Weber'sche Concertstück), hat sich bemüßigt gesehen, gegen die Art und Weise, in der dieser Umstand in dem Blatte 'The Musical World' erwähnt wurde, gerichtlich Klage zu erheben, oder wenigstens mit einer solchen zu drohen. ('Der Spaß ist gut', singt der Chor in 'Robert der Teufel.')"
 
   
   
   
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