Heinrich Conried (September 3, 1855 â€" April 27, 1909) was an
Austrian and naturalized American theatrical manager and director.
Beginning his career as an actor in Vienna, he took his first post as
theater director at the at the Stadttheater Bremen in 1876. In 1878 he
relocated to New York City where he remained for the rest of his
career, serving initially as director of the Germania Theatre
(1878-1881), followed by posts at the Thalia Theatre (1881-1882), New
York Concert Company (1882-1883), and the Irving Place Theatre
(1883-1903) In 1903 he became director of the Metropolitan Opera in
New York City, a post he remained in until his retirement in 1908.He
was born on September 3, 1855 in Bielitz, Austrian Silesia (now
Poland). His father was a weaver of Jewish origin. He received his
education at the Realschule in Vienna. Early on, he was an actor in at
the Burgtheater in Vienna. Only 21 years old he became manager of the
failed Stadttheater Bremen. His success in rescuing the theater not
only moved the Senate of the city to pass a resolution thanking him,
but also brought him to the attention of Adolf Neuendorff, who was the
manager of the Germania Theatre in New York. On invitation of
Neuendorff Conried moved in 1878 to New York City, where he became
chief stage manager of the Germania Theatre. In 1881 he moved to the
Thalia Theatre as artistic manager and in 1882 he became artistic
manager of the New York Concert Company.In 1883 he assumed the
management of the Irving Place Theatre where he worked for two
decades. In 1903, he succeeded Maurice Grau as director of the
Metropolitan Opera until 1908. His first season at the Met was notable
through the first production of Parsifal outside of Bayreuth, against
the wishes of Cosima Wagner, who went to court but failed in her
attempt to forbid the production. By December 31, 1913, when the
copyright of Parsifal expired, the work had been represented 43 times
at the Metropolitan Opera. Enrico Caruso, who until then had refused
all offers to come to America, was persuaded by Conried to come to New
York and sing at the Met. Soon after he had become director of the
Metropolitan Opera, he conceived the New Theatre. His tenure was also
marked by the United States premiere of Richard Strauss' Salome which
was presented in “public rehearsal†on January 20, 1907, and at a
benefit performance on January 22. The opera shocked the moral
sensibilities of audiences and was met with dissaproval, including
many audience members walking out during the shocking final scene and
with complaints to the company's board. The opera was pulled for the
company's season and the Met did not actually stage the opera until
1934. Also in 1907, Conreid notably poached Gustav Mahler from his
conducting post in Vienna, and brought him in to lead the conducting
staff at the Met; a position he remained in until leaving to become
the director of the New York Philharmonic in 1909.On May 1, 1908
Conreid retired from the Metropolitan Opera House due to his poor
health. Immediately afterwards he voyaged to Europe. He died on April
27, 1909 in the Hotel Meranerhof in the city of Meran from an
apoplectic stroke in the presence of his wife and sister.
Austrian and naturalized American theatrical manager and director.
Beginning his career as an actor in Vienna, he took his first post as
theater director at the at the Stadttheater Bremen in 1876. In 1878 he
relocated to New York City where he remained for the rest of his
career, serving initially as director of the Germania Theatre
(1878-1881), followed by posts at the Thalia Theatre (1881-1882), New
York Concert Company (1882-1883), and the Irving Place Theatre
(1883-1903) In 1903 he became director of the Metropolitan Opera in
New York City, a post he remained in until his retirement in 1908.He
was born on September 3, 1855 in Bielitz, Austrian Silesia (now
Poland). His father was a weaver of Jewish origin. He received his
education at the Realschule in Vienna. Early on, he was an actor in at
the Burgtheater in Vienna. Only 21 years old he became manager of the
failed Stadttheater Bremen. His success in rescuing the theater not
only moved the Senate of the city to pass a resolution thanking him,
but also brought him to the attention of Adolf Neuendorff, who was the
manager of the Germania Theatre in New York. On invitation of
Neuendorff Conried moved in 1878 to New York City, where he became
chief stage manager of the Germania Theatre. In 1881 he moved to the
Thalia Theatre as artistic manager and in 1882 he became artistic
manager of the New York Concert Company.In 1883 he assumed the
management of the Irving Place Theatre where he worked for two
decades. In 1903, he succeeded Maurice Grau as director of the
Metropolitan Opera until 1908. His first season at the Met was notable
through the first production of Parsifal outside of Bayreuth, against
the wishes of Cosima Wagner, who went to court but failed in her
attempt to forbid the production. By December 31, 1913, when the
copyright of Parsifal expired, the work had been represented 43 times
at the Metropolitan Opera. Enrico Caruso, who until then had refused
all offers to come to America, was persuaded by Conried to come to New
York and sing at the Met. Soon after he had become director of the
Metropolitan Opera, he conceived the New Theatre. His tenure was also
marked by the United States premiere of Richard Strauss' Salome which
was presented in “public rehearsal†on January 20, 1907, and at a
benefit performance on January 22. The opera shocked the moral
sensibilities of audiences and was met with dissaproval, including
many audience members walking out during the shocking final scene and
with complaints to the company's board. The opera was pulled for the
company's season and the Met did not actually stage the opera until
1934. Also in 1907, Conreid notably poached Gustav Mahler from his
conducting post in Vienna, and brought him in to lead the conducting
staff at the Met; a position he remained in until leaving to become
the director of the New York Philharmonic in 1909.On May 1, 1908
Conreid retired from the Metropolitan Opera House due to his poor
health. Immediately afterwards he voyaged to Europe. He died on April
27, 1909 in the Hotel Meranerhof in the city of Meran from an
apoplectic stroke in the presence of his wife and sister.
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