Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-07
A GREAT ORCHESTRA
For Concerts in New York's Splendid
Carnegie Music Hall.
ANNUAL FUND OF $4,000 SECURED
Andrew Carnegie One of the Guarantors Of
This Amount.
SCOPE OF THIS MUSICAL PROJECT
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,


NEW YORK, Feb. 6.-Music-loving peo-
pie IN this vicinity were rejoiced to hear to-
day that a permanent orchestra, under the
management of the Symphony Society and
the leadership of Walter Damrosch, was
formed for the purpose of giving concerts in
the new Carnegie Music Hall, and the fnan-
cial success of the plan had already been as
sured by number of gentlemen interested
in musical culture in New York. An an
nual guarantee fund of at least 900 has
been promised.
The gentlemen who have already sub
scribed to the fund are: Andrew Carnegie,
William X. Vanderbilt, J. Pierpont Nor
gan, w. Seward Webb, H. Mex. Twombly,
D. o. Mills, Cornelius Vanderbilt, G. P.
Huntington, George Vanderbilt, Theodore
Havemeyer, Charles S. Smith and John
Kennedy. So the concerts will be sue
cess. Mr.. Carnegie, who is the President
of the Symphony Society, spoke encourag-
ingly of the project to THE DISPATCH cor
respondent to-day. Said he:
"If the names of the subscribers are good
then New York can rest assured that the
plan will be financially successful. The
names OF these gentlemen have been put to
legal documents which make the matter
binding. Our object is to advance the cause
of high order of music in New York, and
we intend to do it along the lines of our
efforts in the Symphony and Oratorio socie-
ties-by getting the best
No Doubt of Success.
"Will the concerts eventually pay for
Themselves
"Well, the Symphony Society is even in
its accounts, and the Oratorio Society has a
surplus. That's pretty good fact to start
with. There can be no doubt of the same
thing taking place in these new concerts
which are being planned. Won Bulow said
once that the chorus of the Oratorio here
was chorus of virtuosos. Now, the same
methods that have produced this degree of
excellence will be applied to the new orches-
ira, and it will succeed"
The concerts will. as stated, be held in the
new Music Hall, which has been built with
the latest ideas of acoustics, as well as COM
fort to the audience. Mr.. Carnegie said
that at the least "a concerts would be given
during the season in New York City, and
they will be of nature to please everyb body.
Mr.. Damrosch was in his Office in the
Metropolitan Opera House when The DIS
PATCH correspondent called, and he ex-
planned in detail what the nature of the
concerts will be. But first he spoke of the
inception of the scheme.
A Crisis at Hand.
This was just the time for it, said he.
"a crisis was at hand and something had to
be done. With Mr.. Thomas going to Chi
cago; with the threatened end to German
opera and tine splendid Boston Symphony
Orchestra actually giving concerts III New
York, it seemed as il we were about to take
Il
would never do. But now it will not hap
pen."
81 am both gratiied and surprised to see
how enthusiastically the scheme has been
taken up. Mind you, this guaranteed sum
has been raised in week, and of all the
gentlemen 1 have approached, only two
have refused to subscribe. Besides the
names published, some others have prom
Used to subscribe, but they have not yet
signed the agreement.
1.-THE orchestra will be O! the best OF
| course shall keep the members OF the
Symphony Orchestra and shall also secure
the best of the Metropolitan Opera House
| orchestra, and in general the best that can
Europe to secure a few fine players from
there. This orchestra will rehearse with
me every morning. We are determined to
get the best results that can only be obtained
by hard work.
Character of the Concerts.
"Now, as to tine concerts, there will, in
the first place, be series of symphony con-
certs, preceded probably by the usual matt
nee and open subscription. Then there will
be another series of popular concerts, and
for these we may possibly charge a lower
price of admission. I may also give a
series of Sunday afternoon or evening con-
certs. We will not confne our attention to
New York alone, but will play in Philadel-
phia, Washington and nearby in suburbs
like Orange, Morristown, Newark, Brook
lyn, etc. 1t is the intention to have an or
chestra second to none.
''It would not do to let Boston get ahead
of us, although wish to say right here that
Herr Nikisch is wonderful leader and has
splendid band"
Mr.. Damrosch said he had already en-
gagged great part of the orchestra and that
the details of the plan were rapidly going
forward. The concerts will begin next fall.
The new Music Hall, Mr.. Damrosch said.
was a magnificent thing and perfectly fitted
for its purposes. 1t has cost over s., 600, 000
The new orchestra will number about 100.
When Mr.. Carnegie was asked whether
many PLAYERS Of New York would 90 to
Chicago. he smiled conclusively and said he
did not think musician who could live in