What is Arthur Nikisch?
[[Image:Nicola Perscheid Portrait of Arthur Nikisch.jpeg|270px|thumb|Arthur Nikisch]] '''Arthur Nikisch''' (born Lébény Szent Miklós, [[Hungary]], [[12 October]] [[1855]]; died [[Leipzig]], [[23 January]] [[1922]]) was a [[Hungary|Hungarian]] [[conducting|conductor]]. He conducted in [[Germany]] as well as internationally and was thought of as the greatest conductor of his time. ==Life== Arthur Nikisch was born in [[Hungary]] (then the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]]). His father was from [[Moravia]], his mother was Hungarian. As a child he showed exceptional musical talent. He learned the [[piano]] and the [[violin]] and studied at the [[Vienna Conservatory]], where he won prizes for [[Composition (music)|composition]] and for playing the violin and piano. He was playing the violin in the orchestra when [[Richard Wagner]] conducted a concert in [[Bayreuth]] to celebrate the beginning of the building of his new theatre: the [[Bayreuth Festspielhaus]]. He joined the [[Vienna Court Orchestra]] where he played in concerts that were conducted by famous composers such as [[Brahms]], [[Liszt]], [[Verdi]] and [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]. Soon he started his career as conductor in Leipzig. He quickly became internationally famous. In [[1889]] he was invited to conduct the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]]. He conducted many concerts in the [[USA]]. In [[1893]] he became conductor of the [[Budapest]] Opera. Two years later he also became conductor of the [[Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra]], taking the place of [[Carl Reinecke]]. In the same year he also became the main conductor of the [[Berlin Philharmonic]]. He remained conductor of these two world famous orchestras until his death. Nikisch gave concerts all over the world, appearing as guest conductor with great orchestras such as the [[Concertgebouw Orchestra]] in [[Amsterdam]] and the [[Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra]]. In [[1912]] he took the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] to the [[USA]], the first [[Europe]]an Orchestra to tour there (fortunately they cancelle