The San Francisco call., 1904-03-02
WELL-KNOWN PIANIST AND
MUSIC TEACHER, MHO
DIED SUDDENLY.
Famous Pianist Dies After
Day Spent in Musical
Pleasures.

Otto Bendix. proprietor of the Cali
fornia Conservatory of Music and one
of the best known pianists and music
teachers in America, died suddenly at
his home, 1929 Sutter street shortly be-
fore o'clock yesterday morning. He
had spent Monday afternoon and even
ing with friends, who found him in
high spirits and apparently perfect
health. Shortly after retiring for the
night he became seriously i'll, and his
death followed in spite of all that could
be done for him. His physicians believe
death was due to heart failure, but an
autopsy will be held.
Professor Bendix was a native of Co
penhagen, Denmark, where he was born
about fifty-three years ago. His father,
a prominent merchant. wLs a talented
amateur musician, and at his house
the royal orchestra was accustomed to
meet for rehearsals. Thus the lad grew
up in a musical atmosphere, and before
he had reached his tenth year was
playing the piano with the orchestra.
From that time he devoted himself
to preparation for a musical career,
studying first at the Danish capital un-
der the celebrated Antoine Rec, later
at Berlin with divers masters and final
ly at Weimar under the supervision and
instruction of the great Liszt. His first
public appearances as a soloist were
made at Weimar, with the Grand Duke
as a patron of the concerts.
Thus completing his studies. he re-
turned to Copenhagen and was at once
installed as a teacher in the National
Conservatory, where he spent the next
thirteen years. In 1880 he determined to
settle in America. His first concert in
this country was given at Boston and
at once won him enviable reputation as
an interpreter of great music. He be-
came an instructor in the New Eng
land Conservatory at Boston, where he
was long a popular teacher. His con-
certs in all the leading American cities
made him known as one of the most
brilliant instrumentalists of the mod
ern school, his rendition of the works
of the famous masters combining re-
markable technique with a truthfulness
and sympathy of Interpretation that
never failed to receive the enthusiastic
applause of music lovers. BE was al
ways singularly successful as teacher,
ability to impart knowledge and to en-
list the interest of his pupils. Several
musical compositions of merit are cred
tied to his pen, but he will be remem-
bered rather as a teacher and an in
terpreter of the music of others than
as a composer.
Professor Bendix married twice, his
second wife, who survives him, being
the accomplished Miss Ellen Gum of
Kansas City, Mo. who had been one of
his pupils at Boston. Soon after their
marriage, which occurred ten years
ago, they came to San Francisco, where
his wife aided Professor Bendix greatly
in his professional work Three years
ago they opened the California Con-
servatory in the large house at 1929 SUIT
ter street. 1t proved a great success
from the start and it's pupils have been
numbered by the hundred.
Professor Bendix had host Of friends
among all classes of San Franciscans,
to whom the news of his death will
come as a shock. He was a member of
many clubs and musical organizations.
His last afternoon was spent in COM
pany with Harold Bauer. The two great
pianists had played to and with each
other, and Bendix returned home say
ing how much he had enjoyed the day.
In the evening he and Mrs. Bendix ac-
companied Nathan Landsberger and
his wife to the TivoIi. Almost his last
words were, What a happy day have
had"