Rudolph Aronson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rudolph Aronson | |
|---|---|
 Aronson in c. 1906 | |
| Born | April 8, 1856 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 4, 1919 (aged 62) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Alma D’Alma
(m. 1889; div. 1896) |
| Signature | |
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Rudolph Aronson (April 8, 1856 – February 4, 1919) was an American impresario and composer who was most notable for founding the Casino Theatre in New York City.
European study trip
Aronson was born on April 8, 1856, in New York City to German immigrants. At age six, Aronson started playing piano while attending Grammar School No. 35. Aronson later attended the Packard Business College, looking to have a business career, but his music teacher Leopold von Meyer saw his potential in a music career, persuading his parents to start his education on violin and music theory.[1][2]
On July 8, 1870, Aronson attended his first concert along with his brother Joseph at the Academy of Music which was under the direction of Patrick Gilmore.[3] One of the composers included in the concert, was Johann Strauss II, who would largely influence Aronson to pursue composing.[1]
At age sixteen, Aronson composed his first waltz called "Arcadian", which was first performed at the Arcadian Club. The waltz was published on September 7, 1873, and was first publicly played by Theodore Thomas's orchestra at Central Park Garden.[1][4]
After the success of his waltz, Aronson felt encouraged to go to a study trip throughout Europe. Accompanied by his three sisters, Aronson left for his trip shortly after his mother's death. After arriving in Paris in 1874, Aronson became a pupil of Émile Durand at the Conservatoire de Paris where he studied harmony, counterpoint, instrumentation and musical composition for three years. While in Paris, he completed numerous compositions which most notably included the "Marche Triomphale", which was performed at the Johann Strauss Monster Concert in Berlin on June 17, 1876.[4] In August 1876, he then travelled to Bayreuth where he experienced the first Bayreuth Festival, and later reported his experiences to the American Register of Paris.[1]
In May 1887, upon his return from his study trip, he performed numerous of his waltzes, which were originally composed for the Centennial Exposition, at a concert in Gilmore's Garden which was organized by Patrick Gilmore.[5]
