San Francisco County

Biographies

AUGUST HINRICHS

AUGUST HINRICHS, of San Francisco, was born in Germany, May 3, 1863. His musical education was received in Hamburg, where he studied the violin with H. E. Kayser, piano and organ with Carol Armbrust, and harmony under Angelo Reissland. He played at the Hamburg Stadt theater for three years, during which time he assisted at the first performance of Saint Saens’ “Samson and Delilah,” as well as Rubinstein’s “Nero,” and “Damon,” under the personal direction of the composers. In 1883 he came to this country, and three years later, while first violinist of the Baldwin theater, San Francisco, he gave a number of orchestral concerts, with an orchestra of fifty men, which was a great artistic but not financial success, although the subscription list contained the greatest number of names ever signed for a similar purpose in that city. As leader of the Baldwin theater he has done much to elevate the standard of theater music, and has indeed won a most enviable national reputation for himself by the high artistic quality of the entr’act music rendered, and also has received many flattering and tempting offers from the East, all of which, however, were declined. He contributed much toward the success of the famous Ovid Musin concerts of 1888-’91, at which he conducted the orchestra. In 1890 Mr. Hinrichs conceived the excellent idea of instituting a musical competition for local composers, the competitive pieces to be rendered as entr’act music at the theater. No less than forty compositions of almost every description and character were sent in, and the prize was finally awarded to Harry Falkenau for a graceful, gavotte, entitled “Roses, Music and Love.”

In addition to his musical labors Mr. Hinrichs is correspondent for the Stuttgart Music Zeitung, and has composed a one-act operetta, and, together with Richard Genee, he is at present engaged upon a grand opera which has for its theme the thrilling event that led to the establishment of the American Republic, and which must kindle in the hearts of every loyal citizen the most enthusiastic patriotism. The opera is to be finished in time to be produced at the opening of the World’s Fair, in Chicago, where it is destined to have an immense run.

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, page 182 Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.

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