New-York tribune., 1921-08-28
Richard Strauss Speaks
His Mind About America
German Composer, ON Eve of Visit Here, Asserts
That Europe Needs Only the Dollars
of Uncutured America

posed Frau Strauss II once gave be-
tween thirty and forty concerts there
| would like my husband to be at the
Metropolitan for winter"
NO said her husband, "I will not
go through what Mailer and Mottl had
to endure"
There is no reason why you would
have TO-" l said dryly
"Perhaps We Will stay there three or
four months" she persisted.
NO" he repeated angrily, "only one
month. I will not give a year of my
life to America
But there is no money here in "
enna," pleaded his wife.
"One needs no money here in Vi
enna," he replied sternly. and turning
to ME, indicated that the interview WAS
over"
Herr Strauss's business acumen is
we'll known. Several instances of this
were shown during his visit to America
seventeen years ago for Strauss
Festival financed by Steinway e. Sons
and when for the honor of producing
the Symphonic Domestica" at the last
festival concert the great firm of
planoforte manufacturers paid for the
score, the instrumental parts, some ten
rehearsals, fee for the right Of per-
formance and a fee to the composer for
conducting it.
Another incident is recalled when
Herr Strauss was asked to conduct the
annual concert for the Pension Fund
of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. 1t
is tlme-honored custom the world
over for artists to give their services
without remuneration at concerts Of
this character. Angered that he had not
been engaged to conduct this orchestra
at one Of their regular concerts be-
cause of the enormity Of the fee de-
nanded Herr Strauss replied that
under ordinary circumstances he would
have gladly conducted the concert
without pay but in view of the man.
ner in which he had been treated by
the orchestra he would only consent
to do so on condition that he receive
his regular fee of $1,000. There was
compromise on the basis of 25 per
cent Of the receipts and Herr Strauss
share of the profits was $500.
And yet on his return to Berlin Herr
Strauss, who is now wondering whether
the financial inducements for the trip
under contemplation will warrant
his taking the journey, complained Of
the commercalisn in the artistic at
mosphere of New York.
Herr Strauss slur at Mr.. Bodanzky
is not at all we'll deserved Not only
has he shown substantial merits both
in the opera house and in the concert
hall but during his conducting adven-
lures in New York no such ignominious
experience has befallen him as that
which occurred when Herr Strauss con-
Quoted his own tone poem, "Don
Quixote,' for the first time in this
city. According to review Of this
~1'-~o*0 ~ i'c'i'F T.. ~ NrenOlci, muSlca'
critic of The Tribune, "Herr Strauss
lost control Of the band and catas-
trorhe resulted, which brought all soar
ing fancies to the ground"
Now the question is not will Herr
Strauss really he persuaded that an
other visit to this uncultured coun-
try, where for many years his music
has received the most generous recog-
milton, is worth his while-his cor-
certs at the Metropolitan Opera = use
have already been announced but will
Herr Strauss turn over the proceeds of
MS tour TO Salzburg, for the million
dollar Festspielhaus, which he sugges sts
should be contributed by America,