In February, Reger makes his successful debut as an orchestral conductor in Heidelberg with the Sinfonietta, Op. 90. At the same time, disputes between opponents and supporters escalate in Munich on the occasion of a Sinfonietta performance under Felix Mottl. Reger takes this extremely hard and suspects intrigues of the hated »clique« -which had “200 free tickets […] in order to whistle out op 90 on 2 February (in Munich)!”¹. The consequences are his resignation from the Akademie der Tonkunst and a collapse at a Berlin concert at the beginning of April, which leads to a longer period of rest. Reger decides to postpone the Hiller Variations for orchestra, Op. 100, which had been planned since May 1904, in order to calm the agitated minds with the unpretentious Serenade for orchestra, Op. 95.

In autumn, he resumes his extensive concert activity at home and abroad, taking him with great success as far as St. Petersburg. In the season alone, 25 exclusive Reger evenings are held.