New-York tribune., 1907-04-30
MR.. KNELSEL MAY GO.
Philadelphia Wants Him-ThreGt-
ened End of Quartet.

n negotiations now said TO be pending between
rnnz Kneisel and the executive committee OF the
,Barantors OF the Philadelphia Orchestra are
t-ought 10 a successful conclusion two rnonentous
-bsnres n the musical world are imminent At
1rendeIssoLn Han this evening concert will be
,i,,en al which Alvin Schroeder. VINO has been
-bs viooncelist % the Kpeisel Quartet since 1881
III say farewell TO the local lovers OF chamber
-rse The solemn festivity viii be enlivened by
,be presentation 70 Mr.. Schroeder Of a massive
.rver punch bowl token Of the appreciation
!, which he IS held by many of the subscribers to
.ba Kneisel Quartet concerts. After the function
An lie hal some threescore Of these subscribers
viii sit down 20 a supper in the Cafe des Beaux
Arts 10 celebrate the conclusion of the fifteenth
New York season q that organization. Though not
- assigned this supper may also be a leavetaking
,,5 one Of greater solemnity than the farewell
concert OF alr. Schroeder. 1t may mark the pass
,ng Of the hneisel Quartet and the retirement OF
AZ Knelsel from the field in which he has won
an almost unequalled distinction. He has received
:, invitation 10 become the conductor of the Phil
s5spha Orchestra, and is said TO be giving Il Sc
,ious consideration, though matters have not yet
raaohed the point Of an exchange OF signatures.
This Is information which viii carry consterna-
.lon 10 the lovers OF chamber music throughout
she land. For many years the Kneisei Quartet has
stood ae the head OF American musical Organlza-
s,ona IN respect OF seriousness of endeavor and
spocessful achievement II has carried its minis
srstions from ocean 10 ocean, everywhere stimu-
Ssting apprecaton and love for the purest form
~ absolute music II has had rival this side
AZ the Atlantic. and there are many travelled mu-
tlcians professional and amateur, who stoutly IN
st that it the equal. If not the superior Of the
hast and most famous Of the chamber music or
sanizatons q Europe-the Joachim Quartet of
berlin ana the Brussels and Bohemian Quartets,
sor Instance Its career has been brilliant in the
extrsne. and when its members withdrew from
the Boston symphony Orchestra four years ago TO
sevote themselves exclusively 10 chamber music,
even the warnest friends OF the orchestra felt
that their loss IN one respect was IN another a
national gain Two years ago the members Of the
quartet Mr. Kneisel Mr.. Theodorov!cz M Sve-
oensk1 and Mr.. Schroeder, came TO New York to be
nearer the centre Of their activities and also 10
take part IN the building UP Of the Institute OF
Musical Arr. school OF music endowed by
James Loeb. which had set itself the task Of lead
ing the way toward higher standard Of musical
instruction than that generally prevalent IN Aneri-
can eonservaIorles. The step. though II increased
the labors of Mr.. Kneisel and his fellows ana nee
esRrly narrowed the territory in which their con-
certs were given did not lessen the scope Of their
activities. over one hundred concerts We're given
last season, with steady growth in appreciation
and patronage. Toward the close Of the season
Mr. Kneisels health broke down. but he carried
his plans through TO a successful conclusion and
began the second years work energetically as
ever. He has not only endured the strain. but
90 at least II seemed TO his friends. has grown
stronger and more capable month after month
Late IN January of this year IL became known
that Mr.. Schroeder had signiaed his intention N
Er. Kneisel 10 return 70 Germany aud devote the
rest Of his active professional life TO that country
Though the Oldest man OF TIE four Nr Schroeder
is only hfty-one years OF age. and the motives
which inlpened him 10 sever his American connec-
tons were looked upon by his friends as wholly
hudable They We're like those which have ap-
pealed 70 many musicians and other professional
men who had come to America 10 make a nvei-
hood and who, after years Of honorable and proat-
able labor, have returned 10 their native lands so
close their careers in greater peace and cornsort
than the strenuous and costly life of this country
affords. That Mr. Schroeders departure would
mean serious loss 20 the quartet was universally
felt but none of the friends OF ar. Kneisel were
sZ1itted 20 fhfnz moment that 70 cot,ld
mean possible dissolution OF the organization and
the retirement of Ny Kneisel from the field OF
active performers. AIr. Schroeder had had two
predecessors. Il seems, however that Mr. Kneisel
IS willing h lnself 10 think q such a woful con-
ungency. ITls reasons. IL IS said are many He
fears the result OF the labor which would Se thrust
upon him by the search for worthy successor 10
NJ. Schroeder and the preparation of a 'repertory
iF the future. This work would consume hts sum-
mer compel him in aIl probability 20 visit Europe
and make him and the other members OF the quar-
iet devote the greater part Of their vacations 10
study. They would. therefore, enter upon the
strenuous activities OF next season already weary
and unfit 70 cope with its demands
Enter the tenpter. Fritz Scheel, who had been
the conductor Of the philadelphia Orchestra since
its foundation, died March I3 last. With the
help OF DR.. Neitzel at one concert and L.eandro
Nsfnpanar al the rest the season OF the orchestra
was carried through Then the search for a sue
oessoF 10 Nr. Scheel began. Inquiries were made
n Europe, and Mr.. Kneisel was approached. Of
me foreign negotiations we believe those which
were continued longest were with Willern Mengel-
pefg' o. Amsterdam. who last year conducted
OF me concerts OF the Philharmonic Society Of New
aork The negotiations between the committee OF
ue orchestra and M Kneisel were begun last
week and i is said that the parties are in sub
sanual agreement, though as has already been
sad no contract has yet been signed Mr.. Kneisel
: not without experience in conducting. though
hls friends have never been taught believe that
ms ambition in that direction outweighed his de-
souon 70 his chosen field. They are not likely 20
oe convinced that the most brilliant success as
CONDUCTOR can compensate them for the loss OF
ius unique and altogether extraordinary capacity
ieaoer o. chamber music. AS a lad he conducted
piharnlorac society Of instrumentalists for short
ne In his native city. Bucharest In the absence OF
Aluaur Nikisch be- conducted the concerts Of the
ooston Orchestra al Chicago AZ the time Of the
Ioiumhan Worlds Fair. Earlier in 1888 he had
eohaucted the concerts Of the orchestra
western tour lasting three weeks. Since 1902 he
"a been associate conductor Of the Worcester
@lsle Festivals IN Massachusetts. II. E. X
OPERA SINGERS SAIL FOR HOME.