The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-15
OBITUARY.
JACOB GRAU.


eminent manager Of nearly all the great operate
celebrities who havo ever visited this country He
died at his residence, No Beekman place, at the age
OF sxty-one years. Mr. Grnu born near Brunn,
In Austria and at carly age exhibited great iastc
ard even passion for music and dramatic
art Although not skilled as musician,
whic quite young his judgment was solicited
10 native province matters appertainng TO that
divine art, and in musical literature ne was especially
learned 1t was passion with him, and IN after
years he destined discover and bring before the
world tho celebrities hereafter named, and With whose
successes his own must always be connected. After
some experience IN management In Europe, In
tho year ls47 Mr.. Grau came to America, and
soon became interested IN operate affairs
with Messrs Mara,zok and Srakosch, but II was not
long before the young manager sought fortune alone
winning golden opinions from Now Workers by the
admirable manner In which no arranged The grand
ball gwen TO tho Prince OF Wales upon tho vs. Of the
latter 10 this CITY At this time he disclosed the
derful executive ability which always characterized
him in his business affairs. Although disaster at
tended oil his later ventures. u could not be
fairly attributed 10 lack Of method and business
gacty
master volinist, Ole Bull, and organized series of
concerts throughout tho country, which were marvel
lousy successful He introduced Tnalberg 10 tho
public, and the lovers oil music wol rcmem
Der tho sensation that brilliant performer produced
Goltschalk also under his manage aud prior
10 1851 there was scarcely high artistic performance
IN any OF tho large ctcs in thaMiddle and Eastern
States which some artist OF Graus importation
under his Objection did not take part yet personally
the manager not much known, bdt was tho real
poWor tnat undertook, directed and accomplished the
When Ullman ana Max strakosch failed IN their
managerial ventures Jacob Grau stepped forward and
undertook carry Italian opera with the singers
they had engaged and others who under contract
TO him. The press almost unanimously nsked, "Who
Is Jacob Graufn But In the brilliant successes that
followed the question answered, and at that time
IL was conceded that ne had saved Italian opera IN
Now York he nrss y brought Sa' MISS Gsnovieve
bella Hnckey, and under his auspices that iavorite
prima donna Miss Clara Louise Kellogg nrst the
trlumphs that have since crowned her in both hcml-
spheres.
In 1858 Mr. Grau visited Europe, afcr absence Of
sixteen years. and was everywhere sought by am
b,ious artists who desired engagements, anu tho
Judgment which rarely iailed HIM IN matters musical
led to tho selection OF an Italian operate company,
which he brought 10 America with him, the most
peto in ensemble that had visited these shores
In 1864 he opened Crosby's Opera House, III Chicago,
which had been especially butt Tor him, and after a
season OF unprecedented success and enthusiasm
made tour OF the entire West With good nbancial
results The next yaar no again visited Europe and
formed another company, winch ne brought hcro
aiLerward vMited Havana, returning to New York IN
the spring Of 1875, his company singing LA Juive'
the night the Academy OF Music was burned.
The GROWING event OF his managerial career was,
however the engagement Of that great tragic actress
| Nine Rislor. The friends OF MIR. Grau aonc Know
/
| tho effort bring tho famous tragcdcnne and her
whole company 10 the United Staics. The enor.
| nous sum demanded per week during tho engage
mcnt; the hcuvy penalty and forfeiture for breach
OF contract the outlay Tor travelling cxpeI and
those risks before performance coud We given dol
lar oil invested capital returned. The faith OF Grau
however, was uniatering, and the result proved tho
correctness Of his judgment. For two years. during
which Mime. Rsiori delighted America Ia her noble
roles she a oil much profit 10 her anagcr,
and IL was only when MI. Grau, 10 1867, became The
| lessee and manager OF the Lyccum theatre IN this
city where his nephew, Maurice Grau, is now direct.
ing the performances oil Me aimee, that The star oil
his success seemed 10 warc Several OF his ventures
were unfortunate. HIS nephew, IRON 1865 had been
more or less associated with Jacob Grau, and
in 1868 they brought over the second opera boune
company that had ever appeared p THIS country. with
such ariists Roses Bell Desclauzcs and others we'll
remembered, producing with great fctdf ''Gcncvcvo
In I86p-70 jacob .Grau was Inactive. In March,
1870 he again visited Eurupo anu brought 10 tina
country the great actress Marie Seobach whose
cesscs in this city will be remembered. In 1871 he
made y coutrncL WITH Hedwie RsaDc, the wife OF Me-
mann, tho great German tenor, but tho capricous
lady broke her contract with MI Grau. 10 HIM also wc
arc indebted Tor the visits OF Rubnstcn the famous
and eccentric pianist, and Wienawsk the vI0inst.
In January, 1872, jacob Grau was attacked with a
stroke OF analysis and IRON August OF That year has
confined his bed being tendefly ana
cared tor by his relatives ana triendG HIS death will
he q real sorrow 70 many New Workers, and TO ART
loss. Hts remains TO be taken to tho wasnf
Cemetery tomorrow NJ O'Clock. Tho burial place
belongs TO the Hebrew Beneficial Society, Of which he
member.