Hans Richter-Haaser (6 January 191213 December 1980) was a noted German classical pianist, who was known for his interpretations of

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classic ...

Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...

and

Schumann Robert Schumann (; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career a ...

. He was also a teacher, a conductor, and a composer. Hans Richter-Haaser was born in

Dresden Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label= Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth ...

in 1912, and studied at the Dresden Conservatory. He made his debut in 1928, aged 16. During World War II, while fighting for the Nazis with an anti-aircraft unit, he had no opportunity to play for years on end, and his technique slipped. However, he regained it after the war. He conducted the Detmold Orchestra from 1945 to 1947. He was Professor of Piano at the North-West German Music Academy from 1947 to 1962. He then made a number of international tours, including to the United Kingdom, North and South America, and Australia. His American debut in 1959 was hailed as "one of the biggest keyboard talents to hit Manhattan in years". He appeared at the

Salzburg Festival The Salzburg Festival (german: Salzburger Festspiele) is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer (for five weeks starting in late July) in the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Ama ...

in 1963. He played under over 200 conductors, including

John Barbirolli Sir John Barbirolli ( Giovanni Battista Barbirolli; 2 December 189929 July 1970) was a British conductor and cellist. He is remembered above all as conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, which he helped save from dissolution in 194 ...

Ferenc Fricsay Ferenc Fricsay (; 9 August 1914 – 20 February 1963) was a Hungarian conductor. From 1960 until his death, he was an Austrian citizen. Biography Fricsay was born in Budapest in 1914 and studied music under Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály, E ...

Eugen Jochum Eugen Jochum (; 1 November 1902 – 26 March 1987) was a German conductor, best known for his interpretations of the music of Anton Bruckner, Carl Orff, and Johannes Brahms, among others. Biography Jochum was born to a Roman Catholic family in ...

Rudolf Kempe Rudolf Kempe (14 June 1910 – 12 May 1976) was a German conductor. Biography Kempe was born in Dresden, where from the age of fourteen he studied at the Dresden State Opera School. He played oboe in the opera orchestra of Dortmund and ...

Wolfgang Sawallisch Wolfgang Sawallisch (26 August 1923 – 22 February 2013) was a German conductor and pianist. Biography Wolfgang Sawallisch was born in Munich, the son of Maria and Wilhelm Sawallisch. His father was director of the Hamburg-Bremer-Feuerversich ...

Joseph Keilberth Joseph Keilberth (19 April 1908 – 20 July 1968) was a German conductor who specialised in opera. Career He started his career in the State Theatre of his native city, Karlsruhe. In 1940 he became director of the German Philharmonic Orches ...

Herbert von Karajan Herbert von Karajan (; born Heribert Ritter von Karajan; 5 April 1908 – 16 July 1989) was an Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 34 years. During the Nazi era, he debuted at the Salzburg Festival, wit ...

, Carlo Maria Giulini, István Kertész,

Karl Böhm Karl August Leopold Böhm (28 August 1894 – 14 August 1981) was an Austrian conductor. He was best known for his performances of the music of Mozart, Wagner, and Richard Strauss. Life and career Education Karl Böhm was born in Graz. T ...

, Kurt Sanderling and

Erich Leinsdorf Erich Leinsdorf (born Erich Landauer; February 4, 1912 – September 11, 1993) was an Austrian-born American conductor. He performed and recorded with leading orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, earning a ...

. ] Hans Richter-Haaser composed a symphony, piano concertos and other works.Answers.com
/ref> He died in

Braunschweig Braunschweig () or Brunswick ( , from Low German ''Brunswiek'' , Braunschweig dialect: ''Bronswiek'') is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, north of the Harz Mountains at the farthest navigable point of the river Oker, which connects it to the ...

in 1980, aged 68.

Discography

Hans Richter-Haaser's recordings include: *

Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classic ...

, ''

Diabelli Variations The ''33 Variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli'', Op. 120, commonly known as the ''Diabelli Variations'', is a set of variations for the piano written between 1819 and 1823 by Ludwig van Beethoven on a waltz composed by Anton Diabelli. It f ...

'', Op. 120 (1964, Seraphim) *

, Piano Concertos Nos. 3, 4 & 5, with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Carlo Maria Giulini (No. 3) and István Kertész (Nos. 4 & 5) (1963/60, EMI)Amazon
/ref> * Beethoven, Choral Fantasy, with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under

(1956, Philips)Forgotten Records
/ref> * Beethoven, Piano Sonatas Nos. 8, 14, 21, 23, 24, 28 (Philips) * Beethoven, Piano Sonatas Nos. 1, 2, 3, 16, 17, 18, 22, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31 & 32, Diabelli Variations, Rondos Op. 51, Fantasy Op. 77 (1959–64, EMI) *

Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped with ...

, Piano Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5, with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Kurt Sanderling (Kontrapunkt) * Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 2, with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Herbert von Karajan (their only recording together) (1958, EMI) * Grieg and

, Piano Concertos, with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under

Rudolf Moralt Rudolf Moralt (26 February 1902 – 16 December 1958) was a German conductor, particularly associated with Mozart and the German repertory. Born in Munich, he studied there with Walter Courvoisier and August Schmid-Lindner, and was engaged as a ...

(1958, Philips) * Mozart, Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 26, with the Philharmonia Orchestra under István Kertész (1961, EMI) * Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 27, under

* with Ludwig Hoelscher, cello ** Beethoven, Cello Sonatas, Op. 5 ** Pfitzner, Cello Sonata in F sharp minor, Op. 1 **

Frescobaldi The Frescobaldi are a prominent Florentine noble family that have been involved in the political, social, and economic history of Tuscany since the Middle Ages. Originating in the Val di Pesa in the Chianti, they appear holding important post ...

, Toccata for cello and basso continuo ** Dvořák, Adagio in D, Rondo in G minor **

Hindemith Paul Hindemith (; 16 November 189528 December 1963) was a German composer, music theorist, teacher, violist and conductor. He founded the Amar Quartet in 1921, touring extensively in Europe. As a composer, he became a major advocate of the ' ...

, Cello Sonata, Op. 11, No. 3 **

Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions include sym ...

, Cello Sonata No. 2 in D, Op. 58. * with

Henryk Szeryng Henryk Szeryng (usually pronounced ''HEN-r-ik SHEH-r-in-g'') (22 September 19183 March 1988) was a Polish violinist. Early years He was born in Warsaw, Poland on 22 September 1918 into a wealthy Jewish family. The surname "Szeryng" is a Poli ...

, violin ** Violin sonatas by Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart.Henryk Szeryng discography
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richter-Haaser, Hans 1912 births 1980 deaths German classical pianists Male classical pianists German male conductors (music) Academic staff of the Hochschule für Musik Detmold 20th-century German conductors (music) 20th-century classical pianists 20th-century German composers Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 20th-century German male musicians