Carl Bergmann
Encyclopedia
Carl Bergmann was a German-American cellist and conductor
.
, and later he studied with organist-composer Adolph Hesse
in Breslau. By 1842, he was conducting and playing the cello in Breslau. Eventually, Bergmann conducted orchestras in Vienna
, Breslau, Budapest
, Warsaw
, and Venice
.
Motivated by his implication in the revolutions of 1848
in Vienna, Bergmann came to the United States in 1850 as first cellist in the Germania Orchestra
, a touring band of young German musicians, mostly refugees. When the conductor of that orchestra resigned the same year, Bergmann took over. The Germania Orchestra subsequently based itself in Boston
before disbanding in 1854 after giving 800 concerts over its career. During this period Bergmann also directed the Handel and Haydn Society
of that city. After this Bergmann went to Chicago and was immediately invited to direct the Chicago Philharmonic Society. However, he left quickly after giving only two concerts because the Chicago musicians intrigued against him.
In 1854, he went to New York City to conduct the Männergesangverein Arion, a choral group of German-born men. When Theodore Eisfeld
, conductor of the New York Philharmonic Society, became sick for the last concert of the 1854-1855 season, Bergmann replaced him, directing Wagner
's Tannhäuser
overture. This concert was so successful that Bergmann became sole conductor for the 1855-1856 season. He also played cello in a renowned piano quintet that included Theodore Thomas on first violin and William Mason
on piano. In addition to the Philharmonic, he also conducted a choral group, the New York Harmonic Society which later became the Mendelssohn Union. Bergmann organized and conducted a German music festival, held in the Winter Garden Theatre, in 1855, and in 1856 introduced German opera at Niblo's Garden
. He conducted Italian as well as German opera in New York.
Eisfeld returned to conduct the Philharmonic Society for the 1856-1857 and 1857-1858 seasons, but Bergmann returned to the podium the next season, and shared the podium with Eisfeld between 1859 and 1865. In 1865 Eisfeld returned to Europe, and Bergmann continued as sole conductor of the Philharmonic Society until his death in 1876.
Bergmann's life and career declined after 1870. Bergmann suffered from alcoholism
. Since 1864, there had been a rival orchestra conducted by Theodore Thomas to contend with. And the panic of 1873
exacerbated the Philharmonic's financial problems. In 1876, the Philharmonic board requested his resignation, and his wife, whose name has been lost to history, died.
In his autobiography, Theodore Thomas described Bergmann as "a talented musician and a fair 'cello player" but went on to criticize him as follows: George Upton wrote:
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Biography
In 1827, he began studies with Adolph Zimmerman in ZittauZittau
Zittau is a city in the south east of the Free State of Saxony, Germany, close to the border tripoint of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. , there are 28,638 people in the city. It is part of the Görlitz district....
, and later he studied with organist-composer Adolph Hesse
Adolf Friedrich Hesse
Adolf Friedrich Hesse was a German organist and composer.-Life:Hesse studied in Breslau with the organists Friedrich Wilhelm Berner and Ernst Köhler. In 1831, he became the First Organist at the Bernhardinkirche in his hometown...
in Breslau. By 1842, he was conducting and playing the cello in Breslau. Eventually, Bergmann conducted orchestras in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Breslau, Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
.
Motivated by his implication in the revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
in Vienna, Bergmann came to the United States in 1850 as first cellist in the Germania Orchestra
Germania Musical Society
The Germania Musical Society was a classical musical group that performed in the United States in the mid-19th century. Its musicians emigrated from Germany. Carl Lenschow and Carl Bergmann served as directors...
, a touring band of young German musicians, mostly refugees. When the conductor of that orchestra resigned the same year, Bergmann took over. The Germania Orchestra subsequently based itself in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
before disbanding in 1854 after giving 800 concerts over its career. During this period Bergmann also directed the Handel and Haydn Society
Handel and Haydn Society
The Handel and Haydn Society is an American chorus and period instrument orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1815, it remains one of the oldest performing arts organizations in the United States.-Early history:...
of that city. After this Bergmann went to Chicago and was immediately invited to direct the Chicago Philharmonic Society. However, he left quickly after giving only two concerts because the Chicago musicians intrigued against him.
In 1854, he went to New York City to conduct the Männergesangverein Arion, a choral group of German-born men. When Theodore Eisfeld
Theodore Eisfeld
Theodore Eisfeld was a conductor, most notably of the New York Philharmonic Society, which became the New York Philharmonic.-Biography:...
, conductor of the New York Philharmonic Society, became sick for the last concert of the 1854-1855 season, Bergmann replaced him, directing Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's Tannhäuser
Tannhäuser (opera)
Tannhäuser is an opera in three acts, music and text by Richard Wagner, based on the two German legends of Tannhäuser and the song contest at Wartburg...
overture. This concert was so successful that Bergmann became sole conductor for the 1855-1856 season. He also played cello in a renowned piano quintet that included Theodore Thomas on first violin and William Mason
William Mason
William Mason may refer to:*William Mason , American engineer and inventor working for Remington, Colt, and Winchester*William Mason , American composer and pianist...
on piano. In addition to the Philharmonic, he also conducted a choral group, the New York Harmonic Society which later became the Mendelssohn Union. Bergmann organized and conducted a German music festival, held in the Winter Garden Theatre, in 1855, and in 1856 introduced German opera at Niblo's Garden
Niblo's Garden
Niblo's Garden was a New York theatre on Broadway, near Prince Street. It was established in 1823 as "Columbia Garden" which in 1828 gained the name of the Sans Souci and was later the property of the coffeehouse proprietor and caterer William Niblo. The large theatre that evolved in several...
. He conducted Italian as well as German opera in New York.
Eisfeld returned to conduct the Philharmonic Society for the 1856-1857 and 1857-1858 seasons, but Bergmann returned to the podium the next season, and shared the podium with Eisfeld between 1859 and 1865. In 1865 Eisfeld returned to Europe, and Bergmann continued as sole conductor of the Philharmonic Society until his death in 1876.
Bergmann's life and career declined after 1870. Bergmann suffered from alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. Since 1864, there had been a rival orchestra conducted by Theodore Thomas to contend with. And the panic of 1873
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 triggered a severe international economic depression in both Europe and the United States that lasted until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The depression was known as the Great Depression until the 1930s, but is now known as the Long Depression...
exacerbated the Philharmonic's financial problems. In 1876, the Philharmonic board requested his resignation, and his wife, whose name has been lost to history, died.
In his autobiography, Theodore Thomas described Bergmann as "a talented musician and a fair 'cello player" but went on to criticize him as follows: George Upton wrote:
Conductors of the New York Philharmonic Society, 1855 - 1876
- 1855-1856 Bergmann
- 1856-1858 Theodore Eisfeld
- 1858-1859 Bergmann
- 1859-1865 Bergmann and Eisfeld
- 1865-1876 Bergmann