Bernhard Pollini

He attended grammar school and then worked for a merchant before he made his debut in 1857 in his native town as Lord Arturo Talbo in the opera I puritani by Bellini.

Four times a week, he presented opera, twice drama, once operetta or ballet and was so successful that he achieved full houses and handsome surpluses.

Well-known composers such as Puccini and Tchaikovsky were engaged to conduct their own works and, in 1891, Pollini appointed Gustav Mahler as successor to Hans von Bülow as first Kapellmeister at his house.

Other important singers that Pollini brought to Hamburg included Albert Niemann (tenor), Katharina Klafsky and Anna von Mildenburg.

In the 1894/95 season, Mahler conducted 126 evenings at the Stadt-Theater and a further 23 in Altona, and took over the direction of subscription concerts for the late Hans von Bülow.