In Vienna the celebrated critic, Hanslick, wrote of him as follows:  “There are few violinists whose playing gives such unalloyed enjoyment as the performance of this Spaniard.  His tone is incomparable,—­not powerfully or deeply affecting, but of enchanting sweetness.  The infallible correctness of the player contributes greatly to the enjoyment.  The moment the bow touches the Stradivarius a stream of beautiful sound flows toward the hearer.  A pure tone seems to me the prime quality of violin playing—­unfortunately, also, it is a rare quality.  Sarasate’s virtuosity shines and pleases and surprises the audience continually.  He is distinguished, not because he plays great difficulties, but because he plays with them.”

Both in France and Germany Sarasate has always been a great favourite, and is always sure of a large and enthusiastic audience, even though he has passed the zenith of his powers.  He has never taken pupils, but has confined himself to concert playing only, and he has been called the highest-priced player in Germany, where it was said that he received three thousand marks for a concert, while even Joachim received only one thousand.  He has received many valuable gifts during his career, and these he has presented to his native city, Pampeluna, where they have been placed in a museum by the municipal council.  The collection includes articles of great worth from the Emperor William I. of Germany, Napoleon III., the Emperor of Brazil, and the Queen of Spain, and its value is estimated at one hundred thousand francs.

Sarasate has visited the United States twice, and won great favour, for his playing is of the kind which appeals to the fancy, graceful, vivacious, and pure toned, and he plays Spanish dances in a manner never to be surpassed.

He has been compared with some of the most eminent violinists thus:—­Vieuxtemps was an artist with an ardent mind, and a magnificent interpreter of Beethoven; Joachim towers aloft in the heights of serene poetry, upon the Olympic summits inaccessible to the tumults of passion; Sivori was a dazzling virtuoso; Sarasate is an incomparable charmer.

There are doubtless many who remember the tour of August Wilhelmj, the celebrated violinist, who visited the United States about twenty years ago.  He was considered second to no artist then living in his general command over the resources of his instrument, and he excelled in the purity and volume of his tone, no less than in the brilliancy of his execution.  He did not possess the warmth and impulsiveness which constituted the charm of Wieniawski, but his performances appealed to his audiences in a different and more legitimate manner.  He was even a greater traveller than Remenyi, and visited almost, if not quite, every civilised country.  His travels took him throughout Europe, America, Australia, and Asia.  He was, in 1885, invited by the Sultan of Turkey to perform in his seraglio, the only violinist to whom such a compliment had ever been paid.  The Sultan on this occasion decorated him with the Order of the Medjidie, second class, and presented him with some beautiful diamonds.