New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-16
FRANK DAMRoscH DEFENDS HIS BROTHER
HE WRITES A LETTER ON TIE GERMAN OPERA
SITUATION.

HE WRITES A LETTER ON THE GEi'MAN VI "i''
SITUATION
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: VIII you kindly grant me the oppoT'"'l''y VI
saying few words concerning the ssaSo" VI 'e.
men cnera which my brother Walter INTENDS 10
i,.. .vt autumn | ask this favor reluctantly, De-
cause I am not connected with the PROJECT III any
WAY and because have always aVoiaeu any p'o'
lIctv except ouch has been inaeparaO!e rom 10y
professional work but as my brother IS on MS way
20 Europe and therefore unable to detehu h'n'S''i
oraInst the fnany attacks which have been an" are
an baipc made upon the good faith and character
If his uroiect. | feel 1t incumbent on me to give
the true tate Of the case.
A few months ago my brother conducteu severn
performances cf Wagner opera These ndd sus-
rasted themselves to him as feas!bls pecauSS
several yor.d-famcd Wagner singers happened 10
he in New-York az the same time, ana II seeiheu
q pity that this opportunity should not be ut'lzed
T., Give a few Of the great Wagner music-dranas
Some Of the singers did not prove altogether s,tls-
factory but It nearly the unanimous eNVles
sion of those who attended the performances ma
tho work Of the orchestra was excellent Wy
brother received numerous letters commencing tis
orch@s;ra, work for greater delcdcy and hnish
than had ever been heard IN the Ola Gays u "e'-
II vas then suggested to him to give snort
season OF Wagner opera next ran az me ~ We
conditions: That "A sufficient guarantee pc ral'ed
% enable him to enS1se ne best arts,s ai,
Af,er a months work the first OF tnese con itonS
VS. fulfilled as a guarantee tund OF over SfV,vVp
nd hern raised and my brother ~ now on nls way
., E,,ronn 10 try to meet the second CONDITION. III
he shonil not succeed In getting hrs;-class artsts
no will not attempt 10 give Nagnel opera HeAt
season as his artistic IaealS are at least az H6h
nc those of any other conductor In America.
,rbr,ugh the premature death OF my iather' my
b-.ber was too soon placed under the necessity or
,,-,ing higher position than his experience as
conduct5r warranted at the time even II MS taents
enabled him to do very crecitable work, InlS
hr,ught him n,iich unfaVOr1bie criticism under me
nrr az which he has been nghting MS way onward
ard inward working hard 30 improve himself uhtii
bo bas nov earned 1T least the right 10 50 mucn
c,nGience fron the public that II will be understooo
y no glves Wagner operas next faH, ne VIII $iVr
mon, 80 as to reach the highest artistic STANDARD
obiainable in this country ,, t.,, l.,
A certain evening paper, whose WuSicai cIltic -
an enemy of Brahms u fanatc on WaRner, ana an
ardent friend and admirer Of Herr ,eid Is ON
novln the time while M brother IS abroad IN dolnS
an In jfs power 10 lnjurc his prospects hesitdiing AT
~n kind 81 SANDER. probably because my Drosher
,rnof nossjby defend himself. Apart from the fdct
mai this sort OF warfare does not appeal 70 JIscc
loving Arnerlcans feel confident that Its uriairne->
wiI defeat lts object and that the New York puc-
liz viii be content TO judge my brothers work on
r. is my brothers intention to give the Wagner
chestrn appropriate scenery and other accessories
can produce them. All ask In his behalf Is to give
him fair chance to prove that he can DO thi5 Vel
II Anton Sedl was Wagner conductor yesterday,
IS it impossible that Walter Damroscn may prove
70 be one tomorrow? ...,- ,,.,,oo,cr-
New-York, May H. 1894