Hermann Abendroth

Hermann Paul Maximilian Abendroth (January 19, 1883 – May 29, 1956) was a German conductor.

Abendroth was born at Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and later studied music theory and composition with Ludwig Thuill, piano with Anna Hirtzel-Langenham, and conducting with Felix Mottl in Munich.

He held a succession of conducting jobs in Munich, Lübeck and Essen. From 1915 to 1934 he was Kapellmeister of the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and director of the Cologne conservatory (1925-1934 Cologne Musikhochschule). He became the general music director of Cologne in 1918. He became a professor in 1919. He was the director of Niederrheinischen Musikfestes in 1922.He visited the USSR and conducted the USSR State Symphony Orchestra in 1925, 1927 and 1928. From 1926 to 1937, he visited England and conducted the London Symphony Orchestra.

In 1934, he replaced Bruno Walter, who was dismissed by the newly-installed Nazi authorities because he was Jewish, as Kapellmeister of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. From 1934 to 1945 he was professor of the Leipzig conservatory (1941-1945 Leipzig Musikhochschule).

After World War II , he became the general music director of Weimar from 1945 to 1956. From 1949 to 1956, he conducted the Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra. From 1953 to 1956 he conducted Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (East Berlin).

In 1951 he conducted at the Prague Spring International Music Festival .

Although Hermann Abendroth was a member of the nazi party: NSDAP, he has always claimed that he had never attended any political meeting.

External links

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* [http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~dirigent/discography_e.html Hermann Abendroth discography]
* [http://www.koelnklavier.de/texte/interpreten/abendroth.htm Hermann Abendroth profile]