Kleiber to Manhattan

Since the resignation in midwinter of Conductor Willem Mengelberg (TIME, Jan. 27, May 12), many conjectures have been made as to who would be chosen to lead Manhattan's Philharmonic-Symphony next year in collaboration with the Italians Arturo Toscanini and Bernardino Molinari. Last week the choice was announced: Erich Kleiber, Viennese director of the Berlin Staatsoper.

Kleiber is 39, young as established conductors go. His career since leaving the Vienna Conservatory and the University of Prague has taken him to Darmstadt, Barmen-Elberfeld, Diisseldorf and Mannheim, a post made famous by Metropolitan Opera Conductor Artur Bodanzky and Wilhelm Furtwangler. In 1922 Kleiber left Mannheim for Berlin, ably succeeded able Leo Blech. Two years ago his reputation had reached the U. S., won him an offer from the Metropolitan Opera which he was unable to accept. Since then he has built up a much bigger name in the German capital. Tourists who have flocked to his performances describe him as a smallish man with a high, naked forehead, a strong nose, a pronouncedly cloven chin. His music, they say, has extraordinary vitality. When he arrives in Manhattan next fall to conduct the first six weeks of the Philharmonic's concerts,* it will be with full knowledge of the severe standards by which he will be measured. He was probably the most interested listener at the Orchestra's concerts given fortnight ago in Berlin. Manhattanites may fairly expect to hear through him some of the contemporary German music, to balance the many Italian novelties exalted by Toscanini the Great.

*The Philharmonic's schedule next season: Erich Kleiber first six weeks, Arturo Toscanini next two weeks, Leopold Stokowski two weeks, Bernardino Molinari five weeks, Arturo Toscanini (again) the last eight weeks.

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