Altogether the Cologne Festival of that year was of a somewhat international character, for Spain, too, was represented by one of her most famous sons, the matchless Pablo de Sarasate. His interpretation of the Mendelssohn Concerto came to German ears like something of a revelation, creating a veritable furore, and indeed I doubt if in lusciousness of tone, crystalline clearness of execution, refinement, and grace that performance has been or ever will be surpassed. Alone the way he took that little A natural, the fifth note of the Andante theme, without letting the string touch the fingerboard—“sur le touche” I think is the technical term for it—gave one a thrill of artistic joy never to be forgotten.