Alfred Hertz

He first came to San Francisco as a conductor of the Metropolitan Opera during its 1906 tour and was present when the city was devastated by earthquake and fire.

He later became music director of the San Francisco Symphony, a post he held from 1915 to 1930, receiving praise and a cover story in Time for his leadership and accomplishments.

[2] Hertz led the San Francisco Symphony's first recordings, for the Victor Talking Machine Company, released from 1925 to 1930.

The recordings have been digitally remastered and were issued for the first time on CD by Pristine Classical, as the San Francisco Symphony celebrated its centennial during the 2011-2012 season.

The guest conductor insisted that the orchestra's board hire five new musicians he considered needful, and gave the then-provincial Texas ensemble "the most strict and intensive music lessons it had ever sustained."