Eugene Linden (conductor)
Eugene Linden | |
---|---|
Born | 1912 |
Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Died | 1983 |
Genres | Classical |
Occupation(s) | Conductor |
Instrument(s) | Flute, piccolo |
Eugene Linden was an American conductor. He conducted the first public performance of the Tacoma Philharmonic Orchestra in March 1934 and directed the Seattle Symphony from 1948 to 1950. He is also credited as founder of the now defunct Northwest Grand Opera Company.
Background
Linden was born to a musical family in Chicago in 1912. His father was Harry Linden, concertmaster of the Chicago opera orchestra, and his mother was a violinist who began playing at age twelve and was musical director at Chicago's La Salle Hotel.[1]
Harry's four brothers were also musicians, one of which was Anthony Linden, a
Portland Junior Symphony
Linden's conducting career began with the Portland Junior Symphony (PJS), the first youth orchestra in the United States (established in 1924) which later became known as the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Linden played in the orchestra for several seasons before becoming a student conductor to Jacques Gershkovitch. His conducting premiere came when he conducted Beethoven's Egmont for PJS. By 1930, Linden was promoted to the position of assistant conductor, though he continued playing flute and piccolo in the orchestra.[3] On April 2, 1932 at age twenty, Linden conducted Edvard Grieg's "Peer Gynt" Suite No. 2 for the final concert of PJS' eighth season.[2][4]
Tacoma Philharmonic
In 1933, Linden hitchhiked from Portland to Tacoma, Washington at the age of twenty-one, hoping to establish an orchestra. Three musicians attended the first rehearsal. According to Linden, "No musicians would have been a failure, three was a beginning."
Musicians were not paid during the first two years of the organization's existence. Linden donated his time, commuting from Portland and residing with Belle Hodges Fletcher during his time in Tacoma.[5] The orchestra incorporated and officially adopted the name Tacoma Philharmonic, establishing a constitution and by-laws in the process. The Philharmonic performed for local servicemen often during the 1940s. In 1947, the Tacoma Philharmonic, Olympia orchestra, and Seattle Symphony united to create the short-lived Pacific Northwest Symphony Orchestra, with Linden serving as the associate conductor.[5][6][7] From 1948 to 1950, Linden was also music director of the Seattle Symphony.[6] However, in 1951 the Tacoma Philharmonic's board of directors decided to become a presenting organization.[5]
In 1934, Linden was awarded the
When asked about Scandinavian composers, Linden admitted to having an appreciation for Kurt Atterberg for being a "little like the Franck only distinctly Nordic". He also complimented Grieg for being "intensely deep" and for combining "personal warmth with an austere coldness that must be a reflection of the Norse country."[2]
References
- ^ a b "Eugene Linden to Conduct Junior Symphony Orchestra".
- ^ a b c Grondahl, Hilmar B. "Eugene Linde and Grieg". Portland Spectator. Portland, Oregon. p. 12.
- ^ "Singers Will Take Part in Pantomime". The Oregon Sunday Journal. Portland, Oregon. November 30, 1930.
- ^ "Play Hayden Symphony". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. March 27, 1932.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tacoma Philharmonic: About Us". Tacoma Philharmonic. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ Hearst Corporation. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
- ^ "New Symphony in First Rehearsal," The Seattle Times, 9 November 1947, p. 46.