The Washington times., 1906-06-10
THE NEW LEADER OF
THE BOSTON SYMPHONY

Henry L. Higginson is so intimately
connected.
Many efforts have been made in the
past by different parties 10 bring Dr.
Muck 10 this country. but he has never
oeen able 10 secure a long enough leave
70 come 10 this country. consequently he
VIII make his debut in America a. the
first public rehearsal of the next SYM
phony season in Boston on Friday af-
ternoOn. October y. and viii be heard
IN Washington about four weeks later.
DR.. Muck is the son of a Governments
clerk and was born in the city Of Darn
stadt on October -, 1889. He went TO the
gymnasium in Darmstadt and then 10
Heidelberg, where he was supposed 10
prepare for a mercantile career. \ year
Of philosophical studies in the ancient
city on the Necker, his love for music
came 20 the front and he went TO I.eip-
sic. where he entered the conservat tory
and studied under Richter and Reinecke.
At the same time he continued his phil
osophical studies and took his degree Of
doctor Of philosophy in Heidelberg.
His first public appearance as a musi-
clan took place at n Gewandhaus con-
cert IN Leipslc in $50 when ne made his
debut as a pianist. His success was such
that everybody thought he would follow
up his mind TO bea conductor and shortly
after secured his first post in Zurich
This was followed by appointments TO
the opera houses Of Salzburg, Bruenn
and Graz. all IN Austria. and finally IN
1SSo he was appointed the first conductor
OF the very important opera in Prague.
There he remained Eor six years. con-
duc1ing at the same time the Philhar-
monte concerts of that city.
While there he became known and he
gan 10 take guest" engagements at
various operas and with various orches-
tras Of the Continent He toured Russia
as conductor of the company which An
gelo Neuman took thither 10 produce
Wagner's Ring" He conducted con-
Certs in St Petersburg and Moscow. in
Vienna, Brussels, Madrid and other
cities In 1921 he was a guest conductor
at the Lessing Theater in Berlin and so
profound was the impression he made
that the associate conductorshfp Of the
Royal Opera was offered 10 him before
he left the city His contract with
Prague prevented him from accepting at
that time, but he went 10 Berlin a year
later and there he has since been He
has conducted the German Opera in
Covent Garden. London. has conducted
concerts in that city and in Paris. and
during the last winter shared with Mottl
the honor of conducting the Philhar-
monte concerts in Vienna
DIT Muck has been described as a
strict disciplinarian and an advocate of
much rehearsing- He has been praised
for the phenomenal accuracy and YER
Satility of his knowledge and his noble
and objective artistry" 1t is a sienif-
cant fact that when Mr.. Gericke. the
late conductor Of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra, returned from abroad three
years ago, he said that the one perfect
thing he heard in music was a perform
ance of MOzart's don Giovanni under
the baton OF Muck
DR.. Muck is not a sensationalist and
while there is abundant individuality
seen. in his work he does not court the
limelight. While he is a profound ad-
mirer OF the "classics'' he is in close
and sympathetic toJcn with all the mod
ern movements in music He Is de-
scribed as thoroughly a man OF the
world, of most attractive personality and
his coming VIII make for a year at least
a most desirable addition to musical ufe
in this country.