1. Leipzig

Reger and Albert Eisenberg, summer 1909. – Max-Reger-Institut, Karlsruhe, Elsa Reger’s private album of photographs.
Reger and Albert Eisenberg, summer 1909. – Max-Reger-Institut, Karlsruhe, Elsa Reger’s private album of photographs.

After the harmonious and artistically fruitful beginning in Leipzig, the difficulties with his surroundings grow; every negative review and every weak concert attendance deeply upsets Reger, so that he again increasingly seeks confirmation on concert tours, which take him as far as London. Like his Wolf essay (Hugo Wolfs künstlerischer Nachlass [RWV Schriften A3], 1903), his article on occasion of Mendelssohn’s 100th birthday (Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdys »Lieder ohne Worte« [RWV Schriften A11]) becomes an indictment of the unintelligent social environment.

In January, the 17-year-old Adolf Busch, accompanied by his brother Fritz at the piano, plays Reger’s Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 101, from memory to the composer in Cologne. The encounter marks the beginning of a close artistic friendship that continues beyond Reger’s death. Reconciliation takes place with Max Schillings, who has become general music director in Stuttgart, and subsequently Reger rejoins the ADMV. With his almost classical String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 109, Reger wins the attention of those quartet associations that had reservations about the »wild« predecessor, Opus 74 from 1903.

Postal items from this year whose sender or addressee is Max Reger.


Images from the Max Reger Foto Gallery that originate from this year and have a direct reference to Max Reger.


Reference

Max Reger Biography – 1909, in: Max-Reger-Portal, www.maxreger.info/biography/1909, Max Reger Biography Data, V. 3.1.0, last check: 7th November 2024.