Thomas, Theodore, 1835-1905

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1835-10-11
Death 1905-01-04
Americans
English

Biographical notes:

Founder and first music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1891-1905).

From the description of Theodore Thomas memorabilia collection, 1845-1905. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70961879

Founder and first music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1891-1905), known at the time as the Chicago Orchestra.

From the description of Theodore and Rose Fay Thomas Felsengarten collection, 1814-1905. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70963346

Chicago Symphony Orchestra's founder and first musical director (1891-1905).

From the description of Theodore Thomas music library manuscript collection, [1840]-1900. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70965441

German-American who was the first conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO).

A self-taught violinist born in Esens, Germany in 1835, Thomas played with his father in small theater orchestras after emigrating in 1845 to New York. At age nineteen Thomas joined the New York Philharmonic Society and debuted as a conductor about 1859. He then formed his own orchestra, the Theodore Thomas Orchestra (1862-1888). In 1890, fifty wealthy Chicagoans pledged to establish a symphony orchestra, which opened as the Chicago Orchestra in 1891 with Thomas conducting. Thomas devoted the remainder of his life to conducting and developing this orchestra. When he died in 1905, he was survived by his second wife, Rose Fay Thomas, who actively supported his Chicago endeavors.

From the description of Theodore Thomas papers, 1852-1926. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 53385297

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Subjects:

  • Musicians
  • Musicians
  • Musicians
  • Theater
  • Singers
  • Singers
  • Actors
  • Arrangement (Music)
  • Composers
  • Composers
  • Concert programs
  • Concerts
  • Conductors (Music)
  • Conductors (Music)
  • Manuscripts
  • Manuscripts, American
  • Music
  • Music festivals
  • Music-halls
  • Music libraries
  • Orchestral music
  • Symphony orchestras
  • Symphony orchestras
  • Musicians
  • Musicians
  • Singers
  • Composers
  • Conductors (Music)
  • Symphony orchestras

Occupations:

  • Conductors (Music)

Places:

  • England--London (as recorded)
  • Illinois--Chicago (as recorded)
  • Illinois--Chicago (as recorded)
  • Illinois--Chicago (as recorded)
  • Illinois--Chicago (as recorded)
  • Pennsylvania--Philadelphia (as recorded)
  • Illinois--Chicago (as recorded)
  • Illinois--Chicago (as recorded)
  • Illinois--Chicago (as recorded)

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