New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
How Van der Stucken Averted
a Crisis Following the
Death of Theodore
Thomas.
Cincinnati. May n

Cincinnati, May ~.
Questions touching the future of the GIN
cinnati Music Festivals arise perlodlcaly.
The death Of Theodore Thomas, who caiIeu
them into being in 1873. and whose influence
carried them safely over rocks ana rapluS
for thirty years, threatened to bring ABOUT
q crisis eight years ago. 1t was aNerleo
by the presence in the city or MI van
der Stucken. then conductor Of the Cincln-
natl Symphony Orchestra. There had al
vays been more or less heart-burnings
among the supporters OF the orchestra
because il was not used as the fesuVal
band. Only once before the advent OF Mr..
Van der Stucken had Cincinnati provided
the nucleus Of the festival orchestra. mat
was when Mr.. Thomas was at the head
Of the College of Music and also OF the
local orchestra. For the festivals from
1873 10 1850. with the exception of this one
the band was his New York orchestra,
augmented for special occasions from the
ranks Of local musicians. The two factions
were united in 1906 by the action or the
festival board In utilizing the Cincinnati
orchestra and recruiting 1t with musicians
from Pittsburgh. The results were not
quite satisfactory from an artistic point OF
view. and not at all from a financial, TOT
the increased number of rehearsals neces-
sarily held, made the cost or the mstru-
mental factor larger than it would nave
been had the Thomas orchestra Deeh
brought down from Chicago.
When Mr.. Van der Stucken was retained
for the festival of 1905, a return was made
10 the old system, so far as the players
a X.
MIR. Thomas's successor. was appointed as
ISOLATE conductor He rehearsed the in
strumental music in Chicago and conducted
the festival matinees.
II was but natural that many OF the
promoters Of the orchestra should view
this policy with dropping eye, and con-
fict between the factions seemed ineVta-
BILE. when a successor to Mr.. Van DER
Stucken as conductor of the symphony con-
certs was found in Mr.. Stokowski. The
ambition Of this young organst TO widen
the field OF his activities, led him some
four Of five years ago 10 resign his post
at the Church Of ST. Bartholomew, in New
York and go to Europe TO look about for
opportunities 10 WELD the conductor
baton He found a few in England be-
Heve, and one in Paris, and was so warm
" recommended 10 the committee at the
head Of the local orchestra association that
he was engaged for one season, at the END
Of which the contract was EXTENDED Tor
four seasons more. He served two OF the
four seasons but toward the end or the
second the chapter which is TO be found
in the history of every musical movement
In which love for the art itself is sup
planted by female admiration OF the artist
was written. Excessive adulation deVei-
oped too much ego in his cosmos and
after the most humilating squabole that
ever disgraced the musical community his
contract was cancelled few weeks ago, MS
salary paid him till next September, and he
departed, leaving a host Of weeping school
girls and an indignant multitude whom he
had shocked by the ingratitude with which
he had treated his benefactors.
His departure has cleared the atmosphere
of most of the embarrassments which
threatened the future Of festivals. Mr.
Van der Stucken had made 1t plain that
he did not wish TO have Mr.. Stokowski S
co-operation in the festival Of 1914. and
that rather than endure 1t he would
abandon the dictatorship. At the same time
local pride, coupled, no doubt. with the