Sondershausen is a town in Thuringia that for centuries was distinguished by the residence of the Princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. Despite the town’s modest size (pop. 7,759 in 1910), a court orchestra had existed since 1637. In the early 19th century the group’s public “Loh Concerts” originated on the princely estate (near the Loh, a local term for the forest park). The orchestra attracted some formidable musical talent: Max Bruch was Court Kapellmeister until 1870, and Franz Liszt would w...