The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-26
FELIX MOTIF HERE no STAY.
The Conductor To- Make New York His
Home for Five Years.

Felix Mottl, who is to be the first Wag-
merriam conductor at the Metropolitan next
winter, has been engaged by Heinrich
Conried for five years and not for one as
was generally supposed. He is not to re-
sign his post at Carlsruhe but has re-
ceivcd from the Grand Duke Of Baden the
same sort of leave of absence AS that which
enables Nine. Schumann- Henk, although
a member of the company at the Royal
Opera House in Berlin. to spend most of
her time in the United States.
Herr Motif will he here from November
until April and will conduct during the
other months OF The year at Carlsruhe.
Since Anton Seidl no such noted conductor
as Herr Motif has been here for any great
length of time. However fine the opera
and the instrumental soloists may be, a
great city requires at least one great or
ches; raj conductor In view Of the large
sums yearly expended on music in New York
il is surprising that there has been nobody
to take the place of Anton Scidl.
Berlin has Arthur Nikisch. Richard
Strauss and Felix Wcingartner among it's
permanent conductors, with visits from all
the noted leaders OF other European co,ln-
tries. Fortunately for New York Herr
Mottl ranks among the four or five great
European conductors. whatever New York
era may think of his methods.
He is All Austrian, born at Inter St. Veit
near Vienna, in 1856 As ~ boy he possessed
fine soprano voice, sang in a choir and
decided TO study music.
Al the Vienna Cor Servatory, where he
used to play accomplishments for the
pupils Of NIahilde Marches, he studied
conducting under He!lmesberger, compo-
liton under Dessoff, theory of music under
Bruckuer, Sch,ur and Door ard was grad
uatcd with high honors. He began his
career by conducting in Vienna the Wag-
nerverein Orchestra. Al the age of "a
he was called to Carlsrnhe to succeed Deasotr
IA the court conductor OF the opera and
the symphonic concerts.
Herr Motif worked with Richard Wagner
at Bayrelth in the Arrangement of the
performances long before he was called
there in 1895 To act as conductor in chief of
one festival. Since that year he has been
a regular conductor there and is closely
allied with the Wagner family. Probably
for this reason he viii hand over "Parsifal"
to Alfred Hertzat the Metropolitan.
Under the direction of Felix Mottl at
tention was Immediately attracted TO the
tloings Of the little opera house at Carls-
rlhe. He produced some interesting novel;
ties. revised a number of works such as
Les Troyena," OF Berlioz and with the
limited rnears at his command accom-
plished very interesting results.
III 1893, the Grand Duke Of Baden made him
General Music Director Of Baden. Herr
Motifs fame as a conductor had spread
throughout Germany and he travelled
from city TO city giving concerts, He in
still attached to the Grand Ducal Opera
House in VieAna, although his activities there
in the future will be much restricted
Herr Mottl is one Of the few 'prima
donnas OF the baton" as they are called
nowadays TO come to the United States,
Richard Strauss and Felix Weingartner will
, also be here next season to conduct at the
Philharmonic concerts, 50 New York will
have it's first opportunity to hear some Of
The men II has read NO much about durin g
recent years.