Philip A. Herfort
Encyclopedia
Philip Adolph Herfort was a German
violin
ist and orchestra leader.
He was born in Berlin
, Germany
to Jewish parents, Adolph (Aron) Herfort (1818–1900) and Clara Herfort (1830–1907) née Maass. Philip Herfort married Antonie Johanna Lupprian on December 15, 1877 in New York City and fathered four children; Sophie (1879–1966), Paul (1880–1967), Gunther (1888–1986), and Walter (1886–1887). He studied music under Joseph Joachim
at the Royal Academy of Music, Berlin. He immigrated to the United States on August 5, 1876. That same year, 1876, he appeared with Theodore Thomas at the Centennial Exposition
in Philadelphia. He was first violin and viola of the New York Philharmonic Society (now the New York Philharmonic
) and the New York Symphony Orchestra
. For many years, he was the orchestra leader of the Metropolitan Opera
. He was also the director of the Koster and Bial's Music Hall and the Long Beach Hotel, at its beginning and at the height of its popularity. He was the former musical director for E. H. Sothern
and Sarah Bernhardt
Productions, and was a member of the Venth-Kronold String Quartet, which was led and founded by Carl Venth
. He was also a member of the Aschenbrodel Verein, a musical society. He died on March 24, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and orchestra leader.
He was born in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to Jewish parents, Adolph (Aron) Herfort (1818–1900) and Clara Herfort (1830–1907) née Maass. Philip Herfort married Antonie Johanna Lupprian on December 15, 1877 in New York City and fathered four children; Sophie (1879–1966), Paul (1880–1967), Gunther (1888–1986), and Walter (1886–1887). He studied music under Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
at the Royal Academy of Music, Berlin. He immigrated to the United States on August 5, 1876. That same year, 1876, he appeared with Theodore Thomas at the Centennial Exposition
Centennial Exposition
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It was officially...
in Philadelphia. He was first violin and viola of the New York Philharmonic Society (now the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
) and the New York Symphony Orchestra
New York Symphony Orchestra
The New York Symphony Orchestra was founded as the New York Symphony Society in New York City by Leopold Damrosch in 1878. For many years it was a fierce rival to the older Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York. It was supported by Andrew Carnegie who built Carnegie Hall expressly for the...
. For many years, he was the orchestra leader of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
. He was also the director of the Koster and Bial's Music Hall and the Long Beach Hotel, at its beginning and at the height of its popularity. He was the former musical director for E. H. Sothern
E. H. Sothern
Edward Hugh Sothern was an American actor who specialized in dashing, romantic leading roles and particularly in Shakespeare roles.-Biography:...
and Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
Productions, and was a member of the Venth-Kronold String Quartet, which was led and founded by Carl Venth
Carl Venth
Carl Venth was a German-American composer, violinist, conductor, music educator, and scholar. He was a leading classical music figure in Texas in the first half of the twentieth century and was one of the early music directors of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.-Early life and education:Venth was...
. He was also a member of the Aschenbrodel Verein, a musical society. He died on March 24, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York.
Sources
- New York Times (1857-Current file); Mar 26, 1921; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851–2005) pg. 12