New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-25
MI1sIC AND THE DRAMA.
xrw.YoRK PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC oOSlEAA'
rho New-YOrk Philharmonic Society held
,oosting yesterday morning at the Germama Assembly
80 IN the Bowery for the purpose OF eiecting con
49, Cor the coming season The attendance was quite
there we're about eighty members OF the society
lu and the contest over the election was very
80 and bitter. There were only two names men
.,anadtnat of Dr. Leopold Damrosoh. and That OF M
a,o,s Neuendorff director Of the Germania Iheare.
-, 81 these gentlemen had strong following ana
80 struggle was very fierce. The friends OF Dr..
s1roseb urged that, although Mr.. NeuendOrn
- had experience Conductor, his training lay
nlIarlv in the direction OF opera, and not OF SYM
and other orchestral work. such as Is done by the
1nharmonic Society; and that though no undoubtedly
ability that ability would be Of little or no service
=, conducting their concerts. They said that Dr. Dam
oseh was without question musician Of fine accom-
,sbu,eus and much learning, and especially trained
e. conducting orchestral works. The friends OF MI.
.To,ondorf replied that Dr. DamrOsch had had one
s,,al as conductor Of the philharmonic, and that
his season mad not been financially successful {;
tbat he had not the attraction OF novelty and
chat now it was best to try If no better
Derson than Mr. NeuendOrf could be suggested they
roht nv al means to take him. In the ballot which
oowed there were 46 votes for Neuendorf 20 for Dr.
arnrosch and several blanks. AS 40 votes only were
necessary TO a choice, Mr.. Neuendorf was declared
elected The discussion both before and after the vO
t was very acrimonious and there is great deal OF
ton 80 much Indeed that is feared that number OF
,bs nartisans of Dr. Damroseh Iamong whom are some
~ tina best men in the society, may with
draw from IT, Mr. NeuendOrf, however. is man
Of energy and executive ability and he may quickly
overcome the obstacles thus placed IN his way He was
horn in Hamburg, in 1s43. In 1855 he came to this
country and in 1887 he became, while yet only boy OF
fourteen second violin in the orchestra at the old stadt
beatre OF which Matzka Bergner, and other good men
were then members and OF which Herwig was the oon-
ductor In 1859 he went TO Brazil with an opera troupe
Of the orchestra Of which he cOneertmeister Re
turning to this country he went to Milwaukee in 1857
and was there the conductor of the German
Theatre. In 1868 he returned to New-York'
and in the Autumn Of that year became the
chorusmaster of the German opera troupe which was
then playing here under the management OF Leonard
Grover with Carl Ansehdtz conductor. In 1854, on
Ansehdtz resignnR the eOnducOrshIp, NeuendOrn was
promoted TO position, which he held Tor TWO
years In 1866, he season Of German opera him
SELF and in 1867 be engaged as conductor OF the
sadt Theatre whore he remained for several years In
1870 he brought from Germany the troupe of which
Madame LEGITIMACY the prima donna, and be dd
great deal OF work that year. producing no fewer than
thryseven operas During this season "Lohengrin was
given under his direction, its first performance in this
country In the Autumn OF 1871 ne brought Wachtel
TO America and was subsequently, associated with Carl
Rosa in the remarkable at the Academy of Music
when Parepa-ROsa Adelaide Phillips, Wachtel and
santey sang together opera In 1872 he opened the
Germana Theatre which had been the old Bryants
Mnstrels Tammany Hall, and Of this he has been the
manager ever SINCE while often at the same time carry
ing on various operate ventures In 1873 he brought
Wachtel out again. In 1876 be went TO the Wagner
Festival at Bayreuth correspondent Of the Stats
Zeitlg and 1877 he became the conductor Of Mr. j.
c. Fryer's great Wagner Festival Company. which per
formed In this and other cities and which brought
out ''Die wakiire" "LOhcngrin," "Tannhauser," and
"The Flying Dutchman." Mr.. Neuendorf was also for
many years the organst of st. Peters Cathedral Jersey
City, aud is at present organist of St. Marks P e.
Church in this city.