Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-31
THEODORE THOMAS COMING.
Americas Noted Conductor and Some of His
Company of ArtiEts.
NOTES ON HIS WONDERFUL CAREER.
SJloist While Yet a Boy-His Triumphs
in Amcrica-Joscffy and Cam
panini--An American
Contralto.
)TES ON HIS WONDERFUL CAREER

The most notable musical event Of the near
future in Omaha will be the Theodore
Thomas concerts next Wednesday afternoon
and evening at the Coliseum. Tho people of
Omaha are looking forward with much ex-
pectancy to the event.
AS musical conductor Mr. Thomas has
long been recognized as being the peer of
any other in this country or Europe, and his
splendid aggregation Of superior musicians
cannot fail to present programme that will
be highly pleasing and delightfully."- profitable
to every lover of high grade music
The orchestra which Mr. Thomas employs
is composed entirely of superior artists who
have been for some time playing to the tme
of his baton and are thoroughly drilled
Theodore Thomas is an American in every
thing but birth. He was born in the King
dom OF Hanover in lS35. His father was a
violinist at Esens, Hanover, and from him
Theodore received his musical education
When he was only six years old he played the
violin at public concerts. In 1915, the family
came to New York, and here he was occa-
sonally brought forward as q boy violinist.
Even at this time he applied himself with as
much devotion to the scientific branches of
his art as to his practice.
He was still lad when he joined the or
chestra of the Italian opera, and was only
fifteen when Benedict made him first violin
in the fine orchestra selected to accompany
Jenny Lind in her earliest American con-
certS. When sixteen he made a tour through
the south a solo vioinist, and was after
ward first violin in the opera companies of
which Sontag, Grisi, Mario and Jenny Lind
were tho leading stars. He travelled with
Thalberg ana other eminent artists, and for
several seasons when but little more than
twenty years of age, conducted both the
Italian and German operas.
Early in the '60s ho conceived the idea of a
nrghna atra sad of nl
that could be trained for any music. He Sc
lected subjects from the young German mu-
siclans from the Berlin and Leipsic conserva.
tories who were then coming i'll numbers to
this country. In 1865 his new orchestra
was ready. That summer he gave concerts
at the Terrace garden near Central park,
They We're an immediate success. The youth
and consequent ductillty Of his players and
their excellent education to begin with, had
enabled MIR, Thomas to bring them to u de-
gree of unity and finish impossible with the
older and less cultivated material of his first
orchestra. He had also learned discipline
He was as strict with his boys as drillmas-
ter. The summer concerts were followed by
symphony concerts at Irving hall during the
winter
Mr.. Thomas maintained his orchestra for
seven years and took il to every large city in
tho country The west orn trip was a
wretched financial failure. But Mr.. Thomas
then laid the foundations of his present fame
as great conductor Cities which at tho
time left him on the verge of bankruptcy
have since atoned by every form Of popular
appreciation.
His latest novel undertaking was his
dictatorship of Mrs. Thurbers American
opera company, The tremendous orchestra
and great band OF singers with which he gave
'I.ohengrin," '"rhe Flying Dutchman,"
"Orpheus, I" THE Tanning of the Shraw" aud
Nero are still fresh in the minds of tho
musIc-loving public The enterprise was a
monetary failure, but the important cities
of the country were treated to "A festival of
opera such as rarely has been heard in any
country.
Mr. Thomas stands a colossal figure in the
history of music in America. Ho has run
through the whole gamut of musical practice
and holds an exceptional position New
York, through his efforts, can point TO a rec,
ord which no city in the world can surpass,
Mr. Thomas Is not welded to any partIcu-
lar school, but with strong leaning TO that Of
Wagner be lhas always kept in view th5
sterling ana beautiful compositions of tue
reat old masters, and has played the es