The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06
| 3
G&3;1

II ~
the present time is Richard
E3EYfH Strauss, who, with his charming
WIFE, is now giving rectals in
New York. Next to the ''Parsifal' pro-
duction at the Metropolitan Opera House
the coming of Strauss to this country is the
most important musical event of the season.
Besides giving joint recitals with his wife
he has come to America to conduct music
festival in New York, arranged by Mr..
Wetzler, a concert of the New York Phil
harmonic, and concerts of the Pittsburg,
Chicago and Philadelphia orchestras.
Gustav Kobbe that entertaining New
York writer on musical topics, has witten
the following interesting article telling all
about this remarkable composer and con-
ductor:
Richard Strauss is not only a great COM
poser, but a noted orchestral leader-so
famed, indeed, that he forms one of a small
group Of men who are known as star con-
ductors. Strauss, Nikisch (who used to be
with the Boston Symphony Orchestral,
Weinga ertner, and the Englishman, Henry
Wood, possibly are the only ones who can
claim this distinction
These conductors travel without
chestra, just as the old-time theatrical
stars, who had companies of their own,
but were supported by local stock compa-
MES Strauss and the few others named are
invited to conduct well-known orchestries
in various cities, and Strauss star engage
ments have taken him to all the large cities
of Germany, to England, France, Spain,
Belgium Holland, Switzerland and Russia.
With him comes his wife. Pauline Strauss
De Alma, whom he married soon after she
had sung the role of the heroine in his first
opera. "Guntram." She Is daughter of
the Bavarian general. Adolf de Alma. While
in this country she will give recitals of
her husbands songs, he himself playing the
piano accompaniments. Thus the latter
decided Richard Strauss tinge. Henry
Wolfsohn. of this city. and Hugo Goerlitz.
of London, are managing the tour.
OF course, Strauss fame as a composer
adds immensely to the interest in his ap-
pearance as n conductor. Yet, in spite of
the fact that his compositions frequently
are PLAYED here in concert and that he gen.
orally is regarded as the greatest living
composer, comparatively little is known
about him as a man. His life has not been
exciting yet from the fact that he began
composing while he still child. it con-
| tains much that is interesting. Emil Paur,
who preceded Walter Damrosch as con-
ductor of the Philharmonic, a close
| friend of Strauss, and from various CONVEX
| sations with him / gathered biographical
| data and anecdotes which may be appropri-
ately printed at this time.
Strauss is the famous son of a noted
| father For the elder Strauss was in his
day the finest French horn player in Ger
many and had great reputation as a
player and as a composer for that instru-
| ment. He was a member of the Royal Or
chestra. Munich, where Richard was born
on June II, 1864. His father still is living
and is proud of the son whose fame has
eclipsed his own and who is a noted inter-
national figure before attaining the age of
forty.
early age of four, his mother, like many
mothers of great men, being his first teach
er. When six years old he composed a
polka and soon afterward showed an even
more remarkable aptitude for music Hear
ing some children singing around a Christ
mas tree he quietly remarked: Il can COM
pose something like that" and forthwith
wrote a three-part song. But the best part
of this anecdote still is to come. The lit
tie fellow so much more proficient in
music than in anything else that. while he
could write out the music in a legible hand
his mother was obliged TO write in the
words. because his pothooks were so large.
There always was a lot OF music paper
| around the house, and when he went to
school his mother made covers out of it
| for his books; AT school, whenever he
| got a chance, he jOtted down music on his
| book covers and among other things
| sketched out in this way the scherzo of
| his string quartet, which has been pub
| lished as his Opus ?.
He still was a schoolboy when he COM
posed a whole symphony. IL was in ID
/ minor, and so excellent as TO form and
so striking in its musical interest that
] the Royal Orchestra. under Levi one of
| the most noted conductors OF Germany.
/ produced it at a concert. After the per-
! Torrance there were calls for the COM
| poser, and Richard came out repeatedly
/ to bow his acknow Judgements.
What has that boy TO do with it?''
/ asked some one in the audience
/ pioh he
| the composer.
Nor was this his first composition 10
be heard in public. for during the year
! before QSSo) three Of his songs had been