Liederkranz of the City of New York

Last updated

The Liederkranz of New York City is an organization devoted to cultural and social exchange as well as the sponsorship of musical events. Its activities are dedicated to the support, development and preservation of culture in New York City. Its objective once was to enhance German-American relations.

Contents

History

On January 9, 1847, twenty-five men of German heritage founded the Deutscher Liederkranz der Stadt New York, a male singing society that provided a musical and social outlet for German-American men and also sought to perpetuate the tradition of German music, in both the folk and classical traditions.

By 1861, the society was invited to sing with the Philharmonic Society Orchestra, [1] and its performances of Wagner excerpts at the Metropolitan Opera House and in Boston and Philadelphia were among the first performances of Wagner in the United States. The Chorus sang at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Ferrucio Busoni performed piano works at this concert and others on the Liederkranz’s tour. Many well-known musicians have collaborated with the Liederkranz, including Jenny Lind, [2] Victor Herbert, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Raphael Josephi, Lilli Lehmann, Helen Traubel, and Lauritz Melchior. The Club has also feted Engelbert Humperdinck, Richard Strauss, [2] and Siegfried Wagner. Well-known members of the Liederkranz include Carl Schurz and William Steinway, [1] who acted intermittently as President from 1867 until 1896. Conductor Theodore Thomas, music director from 1882 to 1884 and from 1887 to 1888, used the Liederkranz choir in Wagner concerts. [2] Composer Heinrich Zöllner was conductor and music director from 1890 to 1898. [3] The organisation was officially renamed to "The Liederkranz of the City of New York" in 1919. [4] Honorary members have included President Theodore Roosevelt, Walter Damrosch, [2] and Lauritz Melchior.

The Liederkranz has been involved in numerous charitable efforts for the benefit of New York City and its institutions, the Quaker Fund for German Relief, the destitute of the Chicago Fire, etc. The Society established the Liederkranz Foundation, Inc. on April 8, 1948, for the purpose of providing support to young singers and musicians to further their careers. [5] In December 1999 the Liederkranz of the City of New York donated its library of music scores and parts, Liederkranz Club and Liederkranz Foundation documents, and related materials to the Fales Library at NYU.

Award winners

Notable winners of the Liederkranz Foundation's annual vocal competition include:

Liederkranz Hall

In 1881, while under the leadership of club president William Steinway, the club raised $150,000 in two days for the purpose of building a clubhouse and performance venue, Liederkranz Hall. The cornerstone was laid on October 1, 1881, at 111-119 East 58th Street in New York City. The total cost of the four-story brownstone building, including land, was $325,000. Liederkranz Hall became a well-respected music venue, and beginning in the 1920s, the location of numerous recording sessions for both Victor and Columbia Records. During World War I, the club's Board of Trustees passed resolutions offering Liederkranz Hall to the U.S. government for the duration of the war, prompting commendations from President Theodore Roosevelt. Faced with declining membership in the late 1940s, the club sold the building, [9] which was eventually utilized as a recording venue for Columbia Records and converted into four television studios for CBS in 1950. [10]

See also

Sources

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauritz Melchior</span> Danish opera singer

Lauritz Melchior was a Danish-American opera singer. He was the preeminent Wagnerian heldentenor of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s and has come to be considered the quintessence of his voice type. Late in his career, Melchior appeared in movie musicals and on radio and television. He also made numerous recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Philharmonic</span> American symphony orchestra in New York City

The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is one of the leading American orchestras popularly referred to as the "Big Five". The Philharmonic's home is David Geffen Hall, located in New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirsten Flagstad</span> Norwegian operatic singer

Kirsten Malfrid Flagstad was a Norwegian opera singer, who was the outstanding Wagnerian soprano of her era. Her triumphant debut in New York on 2 February 1935 is one of the legends of opera. Giulio Gatti-Casazza, the longstanding General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera said, “I have given America two great gifts — Caruso and Flagstad.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artur Rodziński</span> Dalmatian-born Polish-American conductor (1892–1958)

Artur Rodziński was a Polish-American conductor of orchestral music and opera. He began his career after World War I in Poland, where he was discovered by Leopold Stokowski, who invited him to be his assistant with the Philadelphia Orchestra. This engagement led to Rodziński becoming music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also prepared the NBC Symphony Orchestra for Arturo Toscanini before the Italian conductor's debut with them. A dispute in Chicago led to Rodziński's dismissal in 1948, whereupon he shifted his career to Europe, eventually settling in Italy, although continuing to maintain a home in Lake Placid, New York. In November 1958, beset by heart disease, he made his professional return to the United States for the first time in a decade, conducting acclaimed performances of Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Exhausted, he checked into Massachusetts General Hospital where he died 11 days later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Balatka</span> American conductor and composer

Hans Balatka was an American conductor and composer. His efforts contributed much to the great increase in popularity of European classical music in the United States during the late 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodore Thomas (conductor)</span> German-American violinist, conductor and orchestrator

Theodore Thomas was a German-American violinist, conductor, and orchestrator. He is considered the first renowned American orchestral conductor and was the founder and first music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1891–1905).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florence Easton</span> English opera singer

Florence Easton was an English dramatic soprano of the early 20th century. She was one of the most versatile singers of all time, appearing in more than 100 roles, covering a wide range of styles and periods, from Mozart, Meyerbeer, Gounod, Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, Strauss, Schreker and Krenek. She sang virtually every Wagnerian soprano part, large and small, from Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer onwards, including Brünnhilde in Götterdämmerung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adolf Neuendorff</span> American classical composer (1843–1897)

Adolf Heinrich Anton Magnus Neuendorff, also known as Adolph Neuendorff, was a German-American composer, violinist, pianist and conductor, stage director, and theater manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steinway Hall</span> Collection of buildings owned by Steinway & Sons

Steinway Hall is the name of buildings housing concert halls, showrooms and sales departments for Steinway & Sons pianos. The first Steinway Hall was opened in 1866 in New York City. Today, Steinway Halls and Steinway-Häuser are located in cities such as New York City, London, Berlin, and Vienna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinrich Zöllner</span> German composer and conductor

Heinrich Zöllner was a German composer and conductor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Bendix</span> American concert violinist and conductor

Max Bendix was an American concert violinist, conductor, and teacher. He was the first concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was also the concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra. Bendix wrote several works for orchestra and some incidental music as well as songs. In 1899, the Musical Courier called Bendix "the finest American violinist".

Theodore Edwin Steinway, of the Steinway piano family, was a member of the Collectors Club of New York and board of trustees of the Philatelic Foundation. He was awarded the first Lichtenstein Medal in 1952 for his efforts in the field of philately as well as his contributions to the growth and prestige of the Collectors Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoonjung Han</span>

Yoonjung "Yoonie" Han is a South Korean-born American classical pianist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karin Branzell</span> Swedish operatic contralto

Karin Branzell was a Swedish operatic contralto, who had a prominent career at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, and in Europe. Her very wide range enabled her to sing both contralto roles and the occasional soprano role. She was particularly noted for her singing of the music of Richard Wagner, in roles such as Ortrud (Lohengrin), Venus (Tannhäuser), Erda, Brangäne, and Brunnhilde. She was considered on a par with Margarete Klose and Kerstin Thorborg as a Wagnerian contralto. Amneris (Aida), Dalila, Herodias (Salome), and Clytemnestra (Elektra) were among her other renowned roles.

Bruce Fowler is an American classical tenor who has had a major international performance career in operas and concerts since the early 1990s. He is particularly known for his appearances in bel canto operas. His first recording, as the tenor soloist for Handel's Messiah with Telarc, was nominated for a Grammy Award. He has also recorded Gioachino Rossini's Stabat Mater for Harmonia Mundi, Rossini's Armida for Sony, Jacques Ibert's Angelique for Fonit Cetra, Georg Philipp Telemann's Der Tag des Gerichts and Hugo Weisgall's Six Characters in Search of an Author on New World Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirlee Emmons</span> American opera singer

Shirlee Emmons was an American classical soprano, voice teacher, and author on vocal pedagogy. She began her career in the early 1940s as a concert soprano, eventually becoming one of the original singers in the Robert Shaw Chorale in 1948. She branched out into opera in the 1950s; performing mainly with regional companies in the United States. She achieved several honours as a performer, including winning the Marian Anderson Award in 1953 and an Obie Award in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Bach Mills</span> English pianist and composer (1839 - 1898)

Sebastian Bach Mills was a noted English pianist, composer and piano instructor who made his concert career in the United States and gave the first American performances of many important works.

The Germania Männerchor, later the Lincoln Club and the Germania Club, was a male choral cooperative society formed by German immigrants in Chicago. The group performed vocal music, music accompanied by an orchestra, and music for social dancing, later transforming to a private social club. It was one of the most popular singing groups in Chicago.

John Charles Pierce is an American operatic tenor and academic voice teacher. He made an international career based in Germany, and focused on Wagner roles such as Tannhäuser, Lohengrin and Tristan.

References

  1. 1 2 Saffle 1998, p. 10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Saffle 1998, p. 96.
  3. Merian & Egg 1913, p. 774.
  4. "History". liederkranzny.org. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  5. "Guide to the Liederkranz Collection ca. 1847-1987". Archived from the original on 2009-11-20. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scholarship Award Winner List 1987–2013" (PDF). liederkranzny.org. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  7. Zahr, Oussama (April 2012). "OperaWatch". Opera News. Vol. 76, no. 10. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  8. "Chicago Bulletin - July 1, 2007 Chicago Classical Philharmonic Concert". chicagobulletin.com. 1 July 2007. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  9. "Liederkranz of the City of New York: History". Liederkranz of the City of New York. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  10. "CBS Studios 53 to 56…Liederkrantz Hall, 111 East 58th Street". Eyes Of A Generation. Retrieved 23 August 2022.