The company was organized by Walter Damrosch, and was meant to present German opera; in this capacity it did much to advance the cause of Richard Wagner's music in the United States.
[1] Damrosch created the company to combat what he perceived to be the growing apathy, post-1890, of the general opera-going public to German opera.
Damrosch raised money for the company by selling his house in New York City, and he spent the summer of 1894 travelling Europe to recruit singers.
Among those with whom he signed contracts were Johanna Gadski and Rosa Sucher, both of whom made their American debuts with the company; others included Max Alvary and Emil Fischer.
The company opened its eight-week season in New York with a performance of Tristan und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera, on February 25, 1895.