New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-24
CONDUCTORS SALARIES.

A dispatch from Boston brings the information
Of an impending change in the conductorship of the
Symphony Orchestra Of that city. Mr.. Wilhelm
Gericke who is Just completing thirteen years OF
service with that organization. will retire the
end OF the present season. leave the field to
conner, concerning whom there seems to be pen.
tful lack OF knowledge, and return TO Europe TO
live out his allotment OF days in peace That he
has honorably earned a rest will scarcely be ques-
toned by any honest student OF his activities.
When he came to America in 1884 he not quite
forty years DID, in the prime of his life and the
height Of his powers. He worked five years with
the Boston Orchestra and. declining re-engags-
ment went home to Austria with his sys-
tenn badly shattered. But he too young to
cease work, and he took up again the leadership
OF the Gesellschaft Concerto which he had laid
down TO accept the Boston engagement. After
European sojourn of nine years. for four OF which
Mr. Nikisch had filed the Boston post and for five
Mr.. Paur, he came back TO the orchestra which.
more through his efforts than those OF any other
man, had become of the foremost concert
institutions in the world, and he is completing
eight more years Of more strenuous labor than he
was called on TO perform during the formative
period Of the organization He has conducted
one hundred concerts each year. more than
half Of them outside Of Boston.
When Mr.. Gertcke came 10 America his salary
was looked upon in some circles princely, and
there were few conductors in Europe who did not
envy him his position. But a great change has
taken place since then. Conductors have become
star" performers in the eyes of the public and
Mr.. Nikisch. who Mr.. Gerickes immediate
successor in Boston IS now earning in Europe
more than twice the sum each year that Mr.. Hig-
ginson paid him. The policy of engaging different
conductor for each concert which was followed for
a time in Berlin. and has now become the rule in
Vienna, London and other capitals, well
New-York, has tended to increase the Importance
Of the men who could catch popular attention not
only in the eyes Of the directors Of concert or
ganizations but also in their own and the demands
of the stars have gone up proporuonately AS an
illustration, IL is reported that Mr.. SafonoH has
set his figure as conductor Of the philharmonic
Society of this city $4,000 year, with set
term of three years. Mr. Weingartner has finished
the first portion Of engagement for three terms
with the New York Symphony Orchestra and an
auxiliary committee, for which he Is paid $4,000
for conducting sixteen concerts. 1t is said that
Mr. MengeIDerg Of Amsterdam; Mr.. Fielder, OF
Hamburg; Mr.. Schuch. Of Dresden. and other Eu-
ropean celebrities. when consulted on the subject
of an American engagement, all mentioned figures
as an annual salary, for which the best Of their
predecessors much less than a generation ago
would have gladly worked for nearly q decade
We do not know that the question Of salary had
anything TO do with the retirement OF Mt Gericke.
though the reference to demands which Mr.. Hig
ginson refused TO entertain would seem TO indicate
that monetary as well as other considerations have
nIsved a part in the negotiations which have come
TO nought- They will certainly have much to do
with the question of who shall be Mr. Gerickes
successor. Mr. GerickeS salary, We believe, WAS
$4,000 q year II he has asked advance this
sum proportionate with the demands OF Mr. Vein
gartner or Mr.. safonoff. he must have demanded
$4,000 year least The matter does not concern
us, except In far IL has bearing the
future Of orchestral concerts in this city and in all
the other cities of America which laboring to
maintain high class orchestral music With all its
prestige and In its native city and here. the
Boston Orchestra is not a money making institu-
tjon. It cannot be under existing conditions.
I'D nf-f.sa 1T Vim
cinnau and the New-York Symphony Orchestra
With its Weingartner attachment, live only because
of large contributions by enthusiastic admirers
OF orchestral music the personality of the I'M
ported conductor the cities in which they live.
bv the Philharmonic Society is also dependent upon
cannot go on orchestras cannot count on such
benefactions forever The Pittsburg orchestra
seems TO be in the throes of dissolution Under the
hest of conditions as they have prevailed with
reasonable salaries no orchestra has been self
supporting except the Philharmonic Society. whose
members do not depend upon their concerts for a
living but take the proceeds in payment OF their
services whether they be SIS or 500 each for the
season.
II is not likely that any OF the permanent orches
tras in the cities mentioned will ever be freed
from the danger OF collapse until they become real
" permanent through the operation Of generous
and permanent endowments. To meet the grow
ing demands Of the star conductors win only
hasten the time of dissolution. conductor. like
every other artist is worth WIN he draw.
The time is not yet when any one OF
than can take the place In popular admiration OF