Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Anschütz, Karl

ANSCHÜTZ, Karl, musician, b. in Coblentz, Germany, in February, 1813; d. in New York city, 30 Dec., 1870. His father was an eminent musician and was in charge of a school for vocal and instrumental instruction. His early musical studies were made under his father, and in 1837 he was sent to study under Frederick Schneider, of Dessau, whose daughter he married. He then returned to Coblentz, where he became conductor of the royal musical institution and of the orchestra at the theatre, with the title of royal musical director. In 1848 he led the orchestra at Nuremburg, and in 1849 was conductor of the German opera at Amsterdam. During the same year he went to London with a German opera troupe, and subsequently he became leader of the orchestra at Drury Lane theatre. He conducted great concerts in Exeter hall, at one of which he gave Beethoven's ninth symphony with an orchestra of 250 musicians and a chorus of 500 singers. He also conducted the Italian opera at Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and elsewhere in Great Britain. In 1857 he came to the United States with Ullman's Italian opera troupe, which he conducted until 1860. He founded in 1862 the German opera in New York, and was active in the establishment of the New York conservatory of music. In 1869 he served as musical director of the New York section of the mass choruses at the Baltimore singing festival. He was also a composer of some ability, and wrote out for brass instruments the nine symphonies of Beethoven, of which two were performed.