New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-26
THEODORE THOMAS.
HE is TO LEAVE NETWORK.

Theodore Thomas after fifteen years of hard and
unrewarded labor, has abandoned thankless task
amongst us, and has accepted position as director
of Conservatory of Music to be established at
Cincinnati, in the new Music Hail. He has made
contract with the originators Of the enterprise
to give his whole time to it for
period of five years, at a liberal sal
airy, and he will remove TO Cincinnati
on the 1st of October To him the change is proba-
bly, piece of good fortune, but to New-York, if
not to the nation at large, it is an incaIculsbe in
jury. The orchestra will be broken up. A part of
it viii doubtless accompany Mr.. Thomas to the
West, and viii play under his direction there. But
the New-YOrk concerts which have been for so many
years not only the most important of all our musical
entertainments but the most valuable influences
Of musical culture and intelligence, will be
stopped. There will be no more symphony
evenings at Steinway Hall. There will be
no moro Garden entertainments after the
end of next month. The New-York Philhar-
monte Society is left without conductor, and will
doubtless lose some of its best performers. The
Brooklyn philharmonic Society loses both conductor
and orchestra and nothing remains of it but board
of directors.
This disaster to the interests of New-York is
chargeabe not merely to the enterprise and lber-
atty of Cincinnati, but TO the strange indifference
gentleman the other day, "you New Workers have
been sitting down with your hands folded and
smirk on your faces, and allowing Theodore Thomas
to entertain you at his own cost" 1t Is no
secret, to those who are familiar with
musical affairs that in spite OF oc-
casonal seasons of brief and spasmodic prosperity
the noble enterprises of Mr.. Thomas have been
heavy tax upon his own slender purse; that it is
only with the greatest difficulty that no has sue
ceeded in paying the salaries of his musicians and
that he has never received any compensation for
his personal services
it remains to be seen exactly how far his removal
will affect the coming season in New-loTk. The
Philharmonic Society, which has survived so many
vicssitudes will 60 as usual, but who will be
the conductor is not yet determined. The
directors just now seem to be all at
sea- bewldered by their sudden misfortune.
An informal meeting at which nothing was decided
was held on Saturday, and another will take place
tomorrow, when some course of action will proba-
bly, be recommended to the society. DR.. Damrosch
is spoken of in connection with the conductoTship,
but whether he would accept the position If it were
offered to him. nobody able to say, The direct
ors of the Brooklyn Philharmonic Society have held
no meeting The only arrangement which seems pos
sbe for them to engage the orchestra of the New
York society, with whatever conductor may be at the
head oft One of the directors of the Brooklyn Phil
harmonic last evening suggested that possibly it
might be better to 20 out of tho country for con-
ductor. Several are mentioned, that
of Dr.. Won Bulow being apparently the
favorite. 1t was thought that If some
concerted action could be had with the
New-York philharmonic, some tirst-class conductor
might be engaged abroad who would possess the
attraction ofnovelty which DR.. DamTosch, IN spite
e obi il
hoped by the Brooklyn directors that no
final conclusion may be como to by the
directors of the NewYork Philharmonic until an op-
portunity shall have been offered for a conference
between the two societies. 1t is thought and with
perfect reason apparently, that by combining suf-
Gent money might be raised to tempt some artist OF
the very first rank IN Europe to assume the charge
of the two organizations. which would be at any
rate greatly to the advantage of art in this country
THE CINCINNATI COLLEGE OF MUSIC.
The idea of establishing College of Music
in Cincinnati IA not n new one. From the time OF the
first OF the great Cincinnati Musical Festivals in 1873,
the thought has been absent from the minds Of
the founders and promoters these festivals OF making
Cincinnati great aTt-cenre in America to correspond
as far as the widely differing conditions OF the countries
would admit with such cities as are Leipzig and Stuff
CART IN Germany How this to be accomplished did
icaIlv and Decuniary Of the festival last sprnga sue
cess utterly unprecedented in the history Of music IN
either this or any other cOuntrndeated the direction
in Which an effort might be MADE. and tho way 10 when
success migbt easily and surely be Obtained Ihc
FestivaI of 1878 undoubtedly did much TO the
douts OF those who had this scheme ct heart The local
nrde Of the citizens of Cincinnati was stimulated TO
the highest points it was shown that the West was
nferested in art work. and that musical enterprises,
conductedin the proper way could be made sesstan-
ing and when Mr. Springer came forward with his gen
erous gift which met with equal generosity by the
public at large OF Cincinnati. the way seemed PLAIN.
sin IL was deemed best 10 walt, not only TIL the com
letiou of the great Music Hail, which more than any
other one thing has made the establishment Of the Con
eryatory possibility but stll further. Till 1t could be
hoyp mat the interest OF the West in music was not
temporary but an abiding How clearly this was
manifested by the great May Festival OF 1873 the read
os ~ TqE TRIBUNE we'll know. Cincinnati then gave
what was, beyond peradyenture, the greatest Mu-
steal Festival on record it placed itself in the front rank
~ Art srpporters; those who had helped generously
toward tine success Of the earlier Festivals were more
han willing TO continue their benefacons, aud many
oven of those who cared nothing for music were keeny
alive 10 the benefit such festivals conferred upon the
cty and were ready do their part in carrying the
or much further The time ripe for the establish
meDt Of Conservatory unlike any other IN this country
and II money and zeal energy and good sense could
make il So inferior in Europe Most admirable
ouarters n I'd been provided In the new Music Hail.
which couln be secured at mere nominal rent; public
onadenee in the undertaking had been assured by the
uccess OF the last Festival and 1t was certain that all
the money needed could be had for the asking.
Colonel George Ward Nichols, gentleman eminent
IN Cincinnati for his interest and weildireced energy
m all matters pertaining 20 musc assumed the labor Of
organizing the and In an incredibly snort time
tho whole matter was arranged. The College OF Music
- Cincinnati was incorporated under the laws Of the
state OF Ohio on the 18th nst Messrs. r. Springer
Tobp shlto, George Ward Nichols. Jacob Burnett jr
aud peter r. Nef being the directors. Col Nichols was
- ,,o,o,, I'm August 10 a large number OF the