New-York tribune., 1920-12-26
An Invasion of Conductors
Within Next Three Weeks

conservatory he studied composition
and conducting with Wullner, the
piano with Isador Sess, theory with
Jensen, etc. He himself has said Of
this period that he owes much to
Cologne and if he has become a good
musician he has to thank his instruc
tors, Franz Wullner and Isidor Sess,
"who were teachers of rare ability,
such as are seldom met with"
In 1892, when he was twenty-one
years old, he won the appointment Of
music director of the city of Lucerne
in competition in which there were
eighty candidates. The three years he
spent there had much to do with pre-
pairing him for his later work, for the
practice he got was invaluable. There
is nothing in music that man hold
ing such a post is not called upon to
do. He conducted male cholrs, female
choirs and mixed chors; the town or
chestra; the town band; he dlrectt
the music of the High Church; gave
piano recitals; taught; rearranged old
music and composed new. 1t was
post of little money, some honor and
unlimited work. During these years
he composed, among other things, 9
mass for chorus, soloists, orchestra and
organ, which was performed in the
High Church for the first time on
Whitsunday, 1898. He found time to
accept engagements as pianist IN the
cities of Switzerland, Holland, Belgium
and Germany and even to conduct other
choruses and orchestras than his own.
His talent must have been recognized
almost from the beginning, for IN the
spring of 1895 he was chosen conduc-
tor of the Concertge Orchestra IN
Amsterdam, even then one of the best
fol
autumn he began his work in Holland.
His fame as a conductor spread rapid
". In less than ten years be had been
appointed the conductor Of the cele-
brated Museum Concerts in Frankfort
on Main, was appearing regularly IN
London. and had conducted as guest
the principal orchestras Of Germany,
Austria, Italy and Scandinavia. In
1905 he was chosen to conduct the first
nair Of concerts of the Philharmonic
Society of this city, being the first of
the series Of famous conductors who
came to America that year for this
purpose.
His Association With Richard Strauss
In the beginning of his career his
fame was closely associated with the
works of Richard Strauss, in the inter
probation of which he has been held
to have 10 equal. The huge tonepoem
Elm Heldenleben" was dedicated to
him and he used to conduct this and all
the others from memory, a more no.
table feat twenty years ago than it is
to-day.
1t is rather curious that his first
meeting with Strauss brought about
his almost spelling performance Of
Don Juan" 1t was in Cologne, while
he was still student. Strauss mad
gone there to conduct the first per-
formance in that city Of his "Don
Juan and during the rehearsals he
was made desperate by the man who
WAS playing the glockenspel. He
could not count and his entrance was
always wrong. In despair Strauss ap-
pcaled to Willrer and the latter told
young Mengelberg to take the nstru-
ment. At rehearsal he was perfect and
received q pat on the shoulder from the
great Strauss. At the performance his
nerves got the better of him, he lost
his count and did not receive another
compliment from the composer-con-
ductor.
Mengelberg's most conspicuous char
sctcristc is his comprehensive breadth
of musical taste, whicn is restricted
neither by school nor period. He has
said: 81 love rassionately all that is
beautiful and big in our art: Bach,
Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Brahms,
Wagner. Mendelssohn and Schumann."
He is an admirer Of the modern French
school and, indeed, he is credited with
the first performance of D'Indy's
"1star" variations. He is famous in
terlreter of Berlioz, whose "Symphonie
Fantastique" is on his first New York
program. He is devout admirer of
Mahler, calling him one of the most
significant symphonies in the evolu-
ticr of music and confident that the
public will before long so recognize
him
Mcngclbcrg's personality has the
sin plicitv inseparablc from achieve
mcnt. He is mod, st, unassuming,
genial and exceedingly courteous. He
is as cosmopolitan in his life as he is
! in his musical tastes His conducting
is the natural outgrowth Of his tenn
permanent. 1t is quiet and restrained
IN gesture. intense in conviction; he
gets his effects simply, without a
trace Of affectation. Altogether his
coming to New York will add much to
the interest Of tho season.