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The first known image of the Chicago Orchestra on the steps of the Saint Louis Exposition and Music Hall on March 14, 1892
This remarkable photograph — the first known image of the Chicago Orchestra — was taken March 14, 1892, on the steps of the Saint Louis Exposition and Music Hall on one of several domestic tours during the ensemble’s first season. It was discovered in an antique shop in Door County, Wisconsin, in the early 1960s by Jeff Gold, a Chicago freelance oboist and artist. According to Gold, the shop, now closed, had acquired it from the estate of an unidentified member of the Orchestra, who had retired and moved to Wisconsin.
The musicians were identified by Norman Schweikert (1937–2018), a member of the CSO’s horn section from 1971 until 1997. Over the course of his career and long into his retirement, he gathered biographical information on professional symphony orchestra and opera instrumentalists from all over the world.
According to Schweikert, the photograph shows 49 of the 50-member touring ensemble, representing a relatively balanced instrumentation and reduced to economize and fit comfortably on smaller stages. Above and beneath the image are handwritten identifications with lines drawn toward the men. Because they are all wearing hats, it is difficult to recognize everyone, but comparisons with photographs taken of individual members during the 1894–95 and 1902–03 seasons helped to identify many of them. The illustration and accompanying roster below attempt to match names with faces. (Missing are Theodore McNicol (librarian, 1891–1916), Henry Sachleben (cello and personnel manager, 1891–1898) and founder and first music director Theodore Thomas.)
FIRST VIOLIN
1. Max Bendix
2. Isadore Schnitzler
3. Emanuel Knoll
4. Alexander Krauss
5. Theodore Human
6. J. Czerny
7. Herman Braun, Jr.
8. Richard Seidel
9. Rudolph Rissland
SECOND VIOLIN
10. Richard Poltmann
11. August Zeiss, Jr.
12. Friedrich Schmitz-Philippi
13. Gustav Starke
14. Richard Donati
15. Albert Ulrich, Sr.
16. Joseph Zettelmann
17. Ernest F. Wagner
VIOLA
18. August Junker
19. Carl Riedelsberger
20. Jan Meyroos
21. Ferdinand Volk*
CELLO
22. Bruno Steindel
23. Walter Unger
24. Ludwig Corell
25. Emil Schippe
Henry Sachleben (cello and personnel manager, not pictured)
BASS
26. Albin Wiegner
27. Joseph Beckel
28. Louis Klemm
29. Richard Helm
HARP
30. Edmund Schuëcker
FLUTE
31. Vigo Andersen
32. Martin Ballman (piccolo)
OBOE
33. Felix Bour
34. E. Schoenheinz (english horn)
CLARINET
35. Joseph Schreurs
36. Carl Meyer (bass clarinet)
BASSOON
37. Hugo Litke
38. Louis Friedrich (contrabassoon)
HORN
39. Hermann Dutschke
40. Adolph Schütz
41. Leopold de Maré
42. Albert Walker
TRUMPET (or cornet)
43. Christian Rodenkirchen
44. Frederick Dietz, Jr.
(15) (Albert Ulrich, Sr.)
TROMBONE
45. Otto Gebhardt
46. William Zeller
47. Josef Nicolini
TUBA
48. August Helleberg
TIMPANI
49. William Loewe
PERCUSSION
(16) (Joseph Zettelmann)
(17) (Ernest F. Wagner)
(18) (Richard Donati)
LIBRARIAN
Theodore McNicol (not pictured)
_________________________________
Musicians are indicated in the order in which their names appeared on the program book roster for the 20th subscription week, April 22 and 23, 1892. Names given in parentheses indicate likely instrument doublings.
*Indicated as “Valk” on the image, this is either Ferdinand Volk (viola, 1891–1917) or F. Valck (flute, 1891–92). If Volk were on the tour, there would be a proper balance in both the string and woodwind sections. However, if Valck were pictured, there would be three flutes but only three violas.
The name L(ouis) Amato (cello, 1891–1901) appears in the lower right-hand corner. Was he perhaps the photographer? The mystery remains.
Completed in 1884, the Saint Louis Exposition and Music Hall was a six-acre, 3,500-seat arena in Missouri. During its first season, the Chicago Orchestra performed in the hall in November 1891 and February and March 1892, giving a pair of concerts on each visit.
Emil Boehl
Portions of this article previously appeared here.
