Produced by Al Haines, Cindy Beyer & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net [Cover Illustration] [Illustration: WALTER DAMROSCH IN 1920] From a photograph by Pirie MacDonald =MY MUSICAL LIFE= =BY= =WALTER DAMROSCH= =NEW YORK= =CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS= =1926= COPYRIGHT, 1923, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS COPYRIGHT, 1922, 1923, by CURTIS PUBLISHING CO. Printed in the United States of America [Illustration] _To dearest M_ _This book I dedicate to you because you have walked hand in hand with me through most of the experiences related therein._ _Because of you my disappointments have been cut in half and my happinesses made double, and if I have made known to you the wondrous muse of music, you in turn have brought into our home and given a permanent abiding place therein, the three gentle sisters—Faith, Hope and Charity._ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. CHILDHOOD—1866-1875............................... 1 II. BAYREUTH IN 1876—MY DOLL’S THEATRE................ 13 III. FOUNDING OF THE SYMPHONY AND ORATORIO SOCIETIES OF NEW YORK........................................ 22 IV. AUGUST WILHELMJ—TERESA CARRENO.................... 28 V. LISZT AND WAGNER.................................. 36 VI. THE FOUNDING OF GERMAN OPERA AT THE METROPOLITAN—DEATH OF MY FATHER................. 51 VII. LILLI LEHMANN..................................... 63 VIII. HANS VON BÜLOW.................................... 74 IX. ANDREW CARNEGIE AND THE BLAINE FAMILY............. 90 X. THE DAMROSCH OPERA COMPANY, 1895-1899............. 104 XI. ARTISTS........................................... 134 XII. ROMANCE........................................... 164 XIII. THE ORATORIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK.................. 169 XIV. THE NEW YORK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA................... 186 XV. THE GREAT WAR..................................... 221 XVI. THE EUROPEAN TOUR................................. 272 XVII. WOMEN IN MUSICAL AFFAIRS.......................... 323 XVIII. BOSTON............................................ 333 XIX. MARGARET ANGLIN AND THE GREEK PLAYS............... 344 XX. DEAD COMPOSERS.................................... 351 XXI. POSTLUDE..........................................