New-York tribune., 1909-10-31
DAMROSCH'S WORK
WM Close Quarter Century as
Conductor IN Februaru.

Conductor an February.
The coming February will mark the twen-
ty-ffth anniversary OF the death of Leopold
Dsmrosch and also the close of the twenty
fifth year that Walter Damrosch has filled
the position OF an orchestral conductor.
With the exception OF two performances OF
Wagner that Mr.. Damrosch conducted dur
ing his fathers last Illness, his first bow AZ
a conductor OF opera was made in Chicago
IN ''Tannb3user'' soon after his fathers
death
Edmund c. Stanton was at this time ap-
pointed admin istratiVe director Of the Met
ropolitan Opera House, and Damrosch AZ
Mr.. Stanton's assistant. was appointed con-
Guctor Young as he WAS, he was sent 10
Europe 10 engage artists and transact busi-
ness for the opera company. 1t while
Ct this first mission that he made contracts
with Lilli Lehmann Max Alvary and Emil
Fischer. Danlrosch also tried TO get Hans
Richter as first conductor but the perils OF
seasickness proved an insuperable obstacle.
Notu was then sought, but the Grand Duke
Of Baden vetoed his going to America, and
Anton Seidl. then conductor at the Stadt
Theatre at Bremen. was the next choice.
Damrosch worked in association with
Se,dl fer several years before the opportu-
nifty for advancement presented itself. He
had. however. produced two new operas In
Boston in 1855 the first year OF his in
cumbency Glucks "Orpheus" and Boiei-
deus La Dame Blanche" His first real
chance in New York came in 1890 with the
production of Peter Cornelius's opera. Tho
Barber of Bagdad" Just before the per-
fcrmance SeidI was taken Ill, and upon
Dam7osch fell the task OF producing the
In,
with Abbey and Grau. and with the end Of
German opera Damrosch's association with
the Metropolitan Opera House came 10 an
end.
During all this period the young conduc-
tor had continued TO conduct the Symphony
ard Oratorio societies and had travelled
extensively with the orchestra. His first
public appearance as a symphony conductor
was made al the Metropolitan Opera House.
This was at one Of the regular concerts OF
the Symphony Society, the date of which
had been postponed because of the death
Of Damrosch's father. The programme on
this occasion. March 27, 1885. was as fol-
lows:
EEymphony GNo 9, in c Major Fam Schubert l
Tor nieT8 small orchestra and harp
Carf Maria Won w.osr
Frans Lszt
Symphonic Poem tafter Kaulbac,1).
In 1894 MIR. Damrosch returned to the
Metropolitan 10 conduct a new series OF
German operas.
For his company Mr.. Damrosch obtained
the following singers: Rosa Sucher, Jo-
hanna Gadsld. Elsa Kutscherra, Marie
Brema. Max Alvary. Nicholaus Rothmuhl.
Paul Lange, Franz Schwarz and Rudolph
Oberhauser. Further, there were Emil
Fischer and Conrad Behrens who had pre-
viously sung in German opera in New
York Katherine Klafsky and Milka Ter
nina Were not added 10 Damrosch's forces
until 1896 which also marked the advent OF
Wilhelm Gruning and Demeter Popovici
Once again after this venture was Dam
rosch TO enter the field OF operate activity.
This was on the occasion of his engage
meut by Grau TO conduct German opera at
the Metropolitan Opera House in 1900 At
the end of this period be determined to
abandon opera altogether and devote him
self exclusively TO the development OF
symphonic music IN New York and else
where.
Damrosch was the first American TO pro-
cuce ''ParsifaI'' IN concert form, the sing
ers for the occasion being Mariana Brandt
and Max Alvary. Also, IN concert form. he
was the drst TO produce Saint-Saens's
Samson and Delilah" and Tschaikowsky's
''Eugen Oneigen." II was he also who
brought Tschaikowsky 70 America. Han
deI's "Acis and Gslatea" was also given
first stage performance IN New York under
his conduotorsbip, and he first guided the
destinies OF Paderewsld's "Manru'' and
Goldnark's Merlin" Among oratorios
and similar works which have received
their first American production at Dam
rosch's hands are TinePs st Francis
Parlzer's ''St. Christopher" Liszts Chris
tus" and the Grell Mass for four choruses
In the field OF purely orchestral works the
following. among many others. have been
played for the first time IN America by
Damrosch: DIndy's Symphony No. 81,
Jour d'ete sur les montagnes'';, Mailer,
Symphony No. 4; Tschaikowsky, Sympho-
MES and G; Elgar, LIST Symphony.