A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Stern, Julius
STERN, Julius, was born at Breslau, Aug. 8, 1820, but removed at an early age to Berlin, where he learned music under Maurer, Ganz, and Rungenhagen, at the Singakademie and the Royal Academy of Arts, and soon began to compose. 'Please enquire about Mr. Julius Stern of Berlin,' says Mendelssohn,[1] 'who has sent me a book of songs with a kind note. From the first glance I think they show talent, but I have not seen or heard anything else about him.' In 1843 he received a travelling scholarship from the King, which led him, first to Dresden for the special study of singing, and then to Paris, where he soon became known as conductor of the German 'Gesangverein.' Here he performed the Antigone, first in the studio of Henry Lehmann the painter,[2] and then at the Odéon theatre, which drew from Mendelssohn a very characteristic letter (May 27, 1844). In 1846 he returned to Berlin, and in 1847 founded the well-known Singing Society which bore his name. The first performance of 'Elijah' in Oct. 1847, gave a specimen of the powers of the new association, and the level has since been fully maintained by performances of a very wide range of works both ancient and modern. In 1872 the Society celebrated its 25th anniversary, amid an enthusiasm which conclusively showed how wide and deep was the public feeling. In 1874 ill-health obliged Stern to retire from the conductorship, and he was succeeded by Stockhausen.
Meantime, in 1850, with Kullak and Marx, he had founded his Conservatorium, which, notwithstanding the defection of his two colleagues, still flourishes and has educated many good musicians. From 1869 to 71 he conducted the Berlin 'Sinfonie-Kapelle,' and at Christmas 1873 undertook the Reichshall Concerts, which however were not commercially successful, and only lasted for two seasons. He then confined himself to his Conservatorium till his death, Feb. 27, 1883. Stern has published many vocal pieces and arrangements, but his most enduring work will probably be his edition of Exercises by Vaccai (Bote & Bock), Crescentini (Peters), etc. He was made a 'Königliche Musikdirector' in 1849, and 'Königliche Professor' in 1860.