Steinberg, William
STEINBERG, WILLIAM
STEINBERG, WILLIAM (1899–1978), conductor. Born in Cologne, Steinberg became assistant to Otto *Klemperer and later first conductor at the Cologne opera. He was director at the Frankfurt opera (1929–33), and made it into one of the centers of progressive music. From 1933 to 1936 Steinberg was active as conductor in the *Juedischer Kulturbund, and in 1936 went to Palestine upon the invitation of Bronislaw *Huberman to organize the Palestine (later Israel Philharmonic) Orchestra for its premiere under Toscanini. In 1937 he became assistant conductor of the nbc Symphony Orchestra in New York, and subsequently conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and part-time conductor of the London Philharmonic orchestras. Steinberg was chief conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1969 to 1972, when he resigned on account of ill health, but continued as musical director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.