New-York tribune., 1921-05-29
By H. E. Krchbiel

AS enc of the sensations of the next
musical season the people of America
are promised visit by Richard Strauss,
who will conduct some orchestral con-
certs of his own music. For three years
Immediately preceding the season whose
close has been recently chronicled Herr
STRAUSS music was practically tabu in
New York. This was because of the
general antipathy to everything German
which sprang up as soon as it was felt
that the United States must become one
of the belligerents in the World War.
Up till the momentous day in April,
1917, when President Wilson and the
Congress declared that state OF war
existed between the United States and
Germany there had been no significant
exhibition of chauvinism in musical cir
cles. German opera WAS kept in the
repertory of the Metropolitan company
tlll the end of the season and q promise
that it would be performed in the sea-
son to come was held out till the very
eve of the season 1917-1s. Then came
the announcement of the abandonment
of the plan and the news that the con-
tracts with some members of the COM
pany whose conduct had become gener-
ally obnoxious had been cancelled.
Among the operas banned from the
Metropolitan Opera House was Strauss's
"Rosenkavalier," which had maintained
a considerable popularity ever since it's
first production on December 8, 1913.
Had there been no prejudice against
the work because of it's language it
would probably have been dropped
from the active list because of it's
being the property Of an enemy alien.
"Hansel und Gretel,' an older favorite,
toward which there was g. peculiarly
amiable feeling on the part of the
public, had also to go by the board,
though to it there was an objection
which did not apply in the case Of
Der Rosenkavalier." The bumptious,
arrogant and mendacious declaration
of the German "intellectuals" concern
ing Belgium, the attitude Of Germany
and the cause of the war bore the name
of the gentle-souled Humperdinck. 1t
was not signed by Richard Strauss,
who was too shrewd to endanger his
prospect of future royalties from the
United States, even though our nation
was not yet officially at war with his.
Humperdinck and Weingartner, more
patriotic, or more subservient--at least
less thoughtful of personal thrift
Joined their fellow professors in the
document which outraged the sense Of
righteousness held by the intelligent
men and women of America and eventu-
ally evoked from representatives of
science, letters and arts in the United
States an address TO the Allies urging
that the question which had been sub
mitted to the arbitrament of the world
should not be compromised but pursued
to triumphant conclusion. That ad-
dress, almost forgotten now, was the
first demand on Germany for uncon-
ditional surrender. We are q people
Of short memories and shorter preju-
dices and in six months will probably
be SIS willing to receive Humperdinck
and Weingartner to our arms as Rich
ard Strauss
Some Incidents of an Earlier Visit
By the German Composer
For the benefit of music lovers who
have fewer years or shorter memories
than ours let US recall some of the in
cidents of Herr Strauss's visit to the
United States seventeen years ago. AS
a composer he had long been familiar,
almost a dominant, figure in our con-
cert-rooms. In the spring Of 1905 he
conducted a series of performances Of
mis- own works In London and plan
was put on foot to give q similar
Strauss Festival" here. The interest
Of Steinway & Sons was enlisted and
the great firm of pianoforte manu-
UeCaInc the HuduClSA priv
noters of the enterprise. Herman
Hans Wet2ler was intrusted with the
organization and training OF an or
chestra. Strauss came to our shores
accompanied by his wife, who had won
repute in Europe as singer, in Feb
ruary, 1904. He brought with him his
latest composition, the Symphonic
Domestica," and it was planned that its
first performance in public should mark
the elimination Of the festival. There
we're to be four orchestral concerts in
Carnegie Hall on February 27 and
March 8, 9 and 16 and song recital by
Nine. Strauss-de Alma, with the COM
poser at the pianoforte, on March /.
The concerts took place as an
nounce6 There was so much obvious
advertising claptrap about the first
concert, at which Herr Strauss con-
ducted only one piece (his "Heldenle-
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