The Washington herald., 1907-04-29
EMINENT GERMAN MUSICIAN
Herr Edgardo Oberstetter Social
Lion in Washington.

Lion IA ~ AshfA = sDAs
Unheralded by advance press notices,
| Herr Edgardo Oberstetter. composer.
I virtuoso. and eminent opera and concert
singer. Of Germany figures undeniabIy as
one Of the lions Of the present spring
| season in Washington. He has sung az
several functions during the few weeks
/ ne has been In this city, but the general
public has hid no opportunity to hear
him other than at a recent recital given
at the washington Club, under the
auspices of the Friday Morning Music
/ Club.
! Herr Oberstetter, at the age Of thirty
4 five, has retired from the operate stage
/ 10 devote himself to composition. Having
achieved pronounced success throughout
1 Europe as one OF the really eminent
] Wagnerian artists, this retirement thus
/ early In life is inexplicable to his fellow
musicians, and especially 10 those OF
+ Munich, the city OF his birth, where his
childhood was passed. Here on the banks
/ OF the beautiful Isar, in the atmosphere
I dear to all German artists, Herr ODeF-
( stetter pursued his early musical studies,
( which soon caused him 10 break from the
+ family trandition which destined MIN 70
a life in the army, in emulation OF his
I fathers calling. In accordance with the
I advice of the gymnasium authorities. no
/ decided upon a musical career, pursuing
J his Instrumental and composition studies
( at the Conservatory at Leipzig, and later
at the royal academies IN Munich and
4 Berlin Very soon he attained 10 such
/ proficiency as a pianist as TO 90 on tour
/ with the celebrated concert singers Of tile
day. settling eventually in Moscow.
where, through the interest and friendship
! Of Prince Vladimir DOlgOruky. be obtain
/ ed the position Of capelmeister At the
/ Imperial Opera House From here Herr
/ Oberstetter went 10 Berlin as choir cirec-
/ tor and organist at ST. Matthew Church.
and IL was at this time that his further
musical talent was discovered.
/ Al a concert under Herr Oberstetters
[ direction. one of the artists. a noted
/ barytone singer, suddenly fell III. and at
a moments notice the young director
/ filled his place. singing the numbers or
/ the programme with a skill that sur
prlsed and delighted the audience. He
/ was allowed no rest by friends and man-
/ ayers until he consented TO devote his
/ time 90 the cultivation Of his remarkable
voice. studying first in Frankfort and
/ later IN Vienna with renowned masters
! Almost Immediately he was offered an
/ engagement at the Royal Court Theater
/ IN Munich. which was followed By an 10
/ vitation from Frau Wagner TO come 10
/ Beyreuth and study with the renowned
1 tenor, Burgstaller. under her personal di-
| rection. Under the leadership Of Dr.
| Hans Richter, Herr Oberstetter next ap-
peared at -Covent Garden Opera House
London, in all the principal Waguerian
/ operas, winning laurels from the English
public and press. His great success at
/ tracted the attention Of the general in
] tendant Of the Berlin Opera House. his
/ eXcellency Won Hulsen. and his inteTpTe-
/ tats9n Of the roles Of Hagen and Me
ph.sto were so successful that he was
! engaged permanently to sing in Berlin,
| appearing frequently at Wiesbaden be
| fore the German Emperor.
As, however, il is impossible 70 OBJ
tain long leave from a German opera
house. Herr Oberstetter severed his con-
I tract in order TO travel and sing in opera
and concert in other countries beside his
/ own. He Is well known to American
travellers. who have heard him AT the
/ Wagerian festivals in Munich. where he
/ appeared with Gadski, Ternina, FTem-
/ stadt, Won Ruoy, Reiss, Burgstaller. Bur
/ rian. and others. He has already de-
/ clined several offers from American man
ayers 10 appear in opera and concert in
| this country Herr Oberstetter's talents.
both as pianist and composer. in addition
| 70 his splendid vocal gift, place him in
a high and somewhat unique position.
| When asked what among his musical
. experiences he regards as most pleasing,
Herr Oberstetter replied: My intercourse
with Johannes Brahms and Johann Straus
during many summers spent AT villa
Erdody. in Ischl, Austria, and the fact
that my last composition, Ave Maria
! sur les Lagunes' has become a favOrite
| with the holy father. and is sung fire.
quently in the Sistne Chapel, at Rome. A"
In reply 10 "a query as 10 what he thinks
Of the American woman. Herr ObeTstetter
| answered. with enthusiasm. "Ah, the
American woman is "a person of such
culture and appreciation of music that
her acquaintance and friendship is an
inspiration TO any artist"