New-York tribune., 1920-02-12
Noted Dutch
Conductor for
New Orchestra
Musicians Society Signs
Willem Mengclbcrg, of
Amsterdam, TO Assist Ar
tur Bodanzky With Baton
TO Come Over Next Year
Distinguished European h
Considered Notable Adj
dition to City's Music

Willcm Mcngelberg, the noted Dutch
conductor, for many years in command
of the Concertgcbouw-O rchcstra. of
Amsterdam, Holland, has been OBJ
tanned for the major portion of the sea-
son of 1920 21 to cooperate with Artur
Bodanzky as director Of the New SYM
phony Orchestra, Inc, of the Musicians
New Orchestra Society.
Ihls information was contained in a
statement issued yesterday by S. +.
MacMillen, manager of the orchestra.
The announcement follows:
"On behalf of the board Of directors
of the New Symphony Orchestra, Inc.
of the Musicians New Orchestra So
cicty, l wish to annaunce that an agree
ment has just been reached by cable
by the terms of which Willem Mengel-
berg, conductor of the Concertgebouw-
Orchestra, of Amsterdam. Holland, will
come to America for several months.
beginning January 1. 1927. He will ioin
forces with Artur Bodnzky, our con-
ductor, in leading the orchestra through
clude with 81 proposed spring festival
OF International scope, at which the
worlds greatest artists will be called
upon to aid Mr.. Bodanzky and Mr..
Mengclberg.
Will Enhance City's Reputation
"The directors feel that the presence
in New York next season at the head
OF the orchestra of two of the greatest
conductors in the world will establish
New York as the musical mecca of con-
certgoers, as it is now of onera. This
situation has been made possible by the
close association existing with the Met
ropolitan Opera Company
"Mengelberg has been one of
Europe's premier conductors for al
most a quarter of century and has
musical center on the continent. He
was born at Utrecht, Holland, IN
1871, and was educated at the Conserva-
tory there, intending at first to be-
come pianist. He was persuaded,
however, to accept the position of
municipal director of music at
Lucerne, Switzerland, a post which he
assumed in his twentieth year. His
achievements there attracted such
wide attention that he was offered the
conductorship of the Concertge
Orchestra in Amsterdam in 1895. His
success there Immediately brought him
into international promir ance as a
conductor of exceptional power and
authority, and since then he has ap-
peared frequently as guest conductor
in all the European capitals. He has
directed many Of the concerts Of the
London Philharmonic.
Mr.. Badanzky's Record Recalled
The musical activities of Mr..
Bodanzky in America are we'll known.
~ d leading conductor at the Metro
I politan Opera House and as the d-
rector of the New Symphony Orsces-
ira, Inc, he has achieved a position
rarely, if ever, attained by a con-
ductor in 50 short a time. His first
at Budwess, Bohemia, when he was
twentythrec years old. In 1901 he
went to Petrograd as an operate con-
ductor, and two years later he con-
Quoted the first performance Of Les
Chauves-Soures in Paris. The next
three years he directed the Royal
Opera at Praag and conducted the
/ Philharmonic concerts there. There
after he conducted in Milan, Rome
Moscow Brussels, Cologne Vienna
Munich and Mannheim, and in 1914
led the first performance of 'Parsifal
in England.
His most conspicuous contribution
to music since coming to America
ccnters around his staging of the
opera 'Oberon' the score and orchcs-
I his greatest triumph was scored in
the spring of 1919 as conductor OF
the New Symphony Orchestra in two
cOncertsb