- Wolfgang Sawallisch
Wolfgang Sawallisch (born
August 26 ,1923 ) is a German conductor andpianist .Biography
Sawallisch was born in
Munich , and began his career at the opera house inAugsburg in 1947. [cite news | author=Stephen Moss | title=Old school titan | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/friday_review/story/0,,222312,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=19 May 2000 | accessdate=2007-08-08]In 1953 he conducted the
Berlin Philharmonic , becoming the youngest person ever to do so. When he debuted at theBayreuth Festspielhaus conducting "Tristan und Isolde " in 1957, he was the youngest conductor ever to appear there as well.From 1960 to 1970 he was Principal Conductor of the
Vienna Symphony . From 1971 to 1992, Sawallisch was Music Director of theBavarian State Opera , and for several years from 1983, concurrently was the general manager of the company.From 1993 to 2003 he was Music Director of the
Philadelphia Orchestra , and is currently its Conductor Laureate. He is also Honorary Conductor Laureate of theNHK Symphony Orchestra ,Tokyo .After his tenure with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Sawallisch returned for guest-conducting appearances in Philadelphia and at
Carnegie Hall . [cite news | author=Anthony Tommasini | title=Channeling Bruckner, Maestro Illuminates Elusive Score | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E7DB1030F936A25752C0A9629C8B63 | work=The New York Times | date=15 Jan 2004 | accessdate=2007-08-08] However, ill health related toorthostatic hypotension prevented Sawallisch from conducting in subsequent years. [cite news | author=Ben Mattison | title=Report: Wolfgang Sawallisch Has Retired | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/4251.html| work=Playbill Arts | date=31 March 2006 | accessdate=2008-01-11] In an article from "The Philadelphia Inquirer" of August 27, 2006, Sawallisch himself stated his retirement from the concert podium:"It can happen without announcement that my blood pressure is too low. This instability gives me the necessity to finish my career after 57 years of concert and opera conducting." [Peter Dobrin, "At home with the maestro". "Philadelphia Inquirer", 27 August 2006.]
Sawallisch and his wife Mechthild were married for 46 years until her death in 1998. [cite news | author=James R. Oestreich | title=A 79-Year-Old Champion of Youth | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E0D6133CF937A35756C0A9659C8B63 | work=New York Times | date=4 May 2003 | accessdate=2008-01-11] They had a son, Jörg. Sawallisch is an honorary member of
The Robert Schumann Society . In 2003, Sawallisch helped to establish a music school inGrassau, Bavaria , theWolfgang Sawallisch Stiftung (Foundation).Prominent interpretations
Sawallisch has been acclaimed as an interpreter of the music of
Richard Strauss . [cite news | author=Edward Rothstein | title=A Cheery, Old-World 'Ariadne' | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEFD6113EF934A25756C0A963958260 | work=New York Times | date=17 May 1995| accessdate=2007-08-08] [cite news | author=Anne Midgette | title=Music: A Musical Capital Looks to America | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03E7DB1F3DF936A3575BC0A9679C8B63&sec=travel&spon=&pagewanted=all | work=New York Times | date=5 Aug 2001 | accessdate=2007-08-08] [cite news | author=Paul Horsley | title=A Hero's Tenure | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/199.html | work=Playbill Arts | date=1 April 2003 | accessdate=2008-01-11] As a pianist, he has accompanied a number of prominent singers inlied er, includingDietrich Fischer-Dieskau , DameElisabeth Schwarzkopf and DameMargaret Price . He has also been acclaimed for his interpretations of the symphonies ofAnton Bruckner . [cite news | author=Anthony Tommasini | title=Channeling Bruckner, Maestro Illuminates Elusive Score | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E7DB1030F936A25752C0A9629C8B63| work=New York Times | date=15 January 2004 | accessdate=2008-01-11]Sawallisch has also recorded, as piano accompanist,
Franz Schubert 's "Die Winterreise" andRobert Schumann 's "Liederkreis" and other songs with Thomas Hampson. One of his most celebrated live concert appearances as a pianist was on 11 February 1994 inPhiladelphia , when Sawallisch substituted for The Philadelphia Orchestra at an all-Wagner concert on the night that a severe snow storm prevented much of the orchestra from arriving at the Academy of Music. [cite news | author=Lesley Valdes and Peter Dobrin | title=Snow or no snow, the show went on | url= | work=Philadelphia Inquirer | date=13 Feb 1994 | accessdate=] [cite news | author=Tom Di Nardo | title="Bons mots" instead of notes from Maestro | url= | work=Philadelphia Daily News | date=28 Feb 1994 | accessdate=] [cite news | author=Nadine Brozan | title=Chronicle | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905E4D81E38F936A25751C0A962958260 | work=New York Times | date=15 February 1994 | accessdate=2008-01-11]Recording highlights
His other recordings for
EMI include highly regarded issues ofRichard Strauss ' "Capriccio" and the four symphonies ofRobert Schumann with theDresden Staatskapelle . He made aquadrophonic stereo album (probably the only one ever made) of Mozart'sThe Magic Flute in 1973 forEMI , starringPeter Schreier as Tamino,Walter Berry as Papageno,Edda Moser as the Queen of the Night,Anneliese Rothenberger as Pamina, andKurt Moll as Sarastro. Other recordings (EMI, Orfeo and Sony) include:*
Ludwig van Beethoven 's nine symphonies with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam
*Johannes Brahms ' "Ein Deutsches Requiem" with the Bavarian Radio Symphony and Choir
*Johannes Brahms' Symphonies Nos. 1-4 with the London Philharmonic
*Anton Bruckner ' Symphonies 1, 4, 5, 6 & 9
*Antonín Dvořák 's Requiem, and Stabat Mater, both w. Cz. Ph.; Symphonies Nos. 7-9 and Cello Concerto with The Philadelphia Orchestra
*Felix Mendelssohn 's Symphony No. 2 with theBerlin Philharmonic and Dusseldorf Chorus
*Franz Schubert 's 9 Symphonies w. Dresden Staatskapelle; Sacred Choral Works with theBavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
*Richard Strauss ' "Intermezzo", "Elektra", "Friedenstag" and "Die Frau ohne Schatten", "Arabella" with the Bavarian State Opera
*Richard Strauss' "Ein Heldenleben", "Symphonia domestica", and "Also sprach Zarathustra" with the Philadelphia Orchestra
*Richard Strauss' Horn Concertos, with Dennis Brain and thePhilharmonia
*Giuseppe Verdi 's "Macbeth" (live recording,Salzburg Festival)
*Richard Wagner 's "Der Ring des Nibelungen", "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg", "Die Feen" with the Bavarian State Opera; "The Flying Dutchman" and "Lohengrin" (Bayreuth Festival)
*Richard Wagner's "Wesendock Lieder" with Marjana Lipovsek and The Philadelphia OrchestraOne of his final concert and recording projects in Philadelphia focused on the music of
Robert Schumann . [cite news | author=Allan Kozinn | title=Back to Schumann, With Care and Passion | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E1DF103DF93AA25753C1A9649C8B63 | work=The New York Times | date=19 Oct 2002 | accessdate=2007-08-08]References
External links
*allmusic|41:50874
* [http://www.soundfountain.org/rem/remsawal.html Wolfgang Sawallisch] at The Remington Site
* [http://www.sawallisch-stiftung.de/index.php?english Wolfgang Sawallisch Foundation ]
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