Emil Steinbach (conductor)
Encyclopedia
Emil Steinbach was a German conductor
and composer
. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner
. He notably conducted the first public performance of Wagner's Siegfried Idyll
in 1877. His compositional output consists of several orchestral works and songs.
Born in Lengenrieden, Baden, Steinbach was the elder brother of composer and conductor Fritz Steinbach
and the great uncle of Peter Maag
. He studied under Hermann Levi
at the Leipzig Conservatory from 1867–1869. From 1872–1877 he was conductor of the orchestra at the Staatstheater Darmstadt, and then served in the same capacity at the Staatstheater Mainz from 1877–1909. In 1893 he conducted opera
s at the Royal Opera House
in London. He died in Mainz in 1919.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
. He notably conducted the first public performance of Wagner's Siegfried Idyll
Siegfried Idyll
The Siegfried Idyll by Richard Wagner is a symphonic poem for chamber orchestra, lasting approximately twenty minutes.-Background:Wagner composed the Siegfried Idyll as a birthday present to his second wife, Cosima, after the birth of their son Siegfried in 1869...
in 1877. His compositional output consists of several orchestral works and songs.
Born in Lengenrieden, Baden, Steinbach was the elder brother of composer and conductor Fritz Steinbach
Fritz Steinbach
Fritz Steinbach was a German conductor and composer who was particularly associated with the works of Johannes Brahms. Born in Grünsfeld, he was the brother of conductor Emil Steinbach. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory and in Vienna. Among his teachers were Martin Gustav Nottebohm and Anton...
and the great uncle of Peter Maag
Peter Maag
-Life:He was born on 10 May 1919 in St. Gallen, Switzerland and died on 16 April 2001 in Verona, Italy.His father, Otto, was a Lutheran minister and his mother, Nelly, a violinist who performed in the Capet Quartet as second violinist. His great uncles were conductors Emil and Fritz Steinbach. ...
. He studied under Hermann Levi
Hermann Levi
Hermann Levi was a German Jewish orchestral conductor.Levi was born in Gießen, Germany, the son of a rabbi. He was educated at Gießen and Mannheim, and came to Vinzenz Lachner's notice...
at the Leipzig Conservatory from 1867–1869. From 1872–1877 he was conductor of the orchestra at the Staatstheater Darmstadt, and then served in the same capacity at the Staatstheater Mainz from 1877–1909. In 1893 he conducted opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in London. He died in Mainz in 1919.
Sources
- Kuratorium Meiningen: Stadtlexikon Meiningen, Bielsteinverlag Meiningen, 2008. ISBN 978-3-9809504-4-2