Klaus Tennstedt
Encyclopedia
Klaus Tennstedt was a German conductor from Merseburg
; he conducted such orchestras as the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
; Kiel Opera in Northern Germany; North German Radio Orchestra, in Hamburg; the Minnesota Orchestra
; and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
.
Tennstedt emigrated from East Germany in 1971 and obtained asylum in Sweden. He conducted in Gothenburg with the Göteborg Theatre and in Stockholm with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
. In 1972, he became General Music Director of the Kiel Opera
in Northern Germany. From 1979 to 1982, he served as Chief Conductor of the North German Radio Orchestra in Hamburg, and during the same period (1979-1982) he was Chief Guest Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra.
In 1974, Tennstedt made his North American debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
. His first US appearance was shortly after that, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
, in December 1974, conducting Bruckner's Symphony No. 8. In Norman Lebrecht's The Maestro Myth, the story was told that when the Boston management asked Tennstedt what he wanted to conduct, he replied: "You mean I get to choose?" His appearances were highly acclaimed, and as a result, Tennstedt guest-conducted at the Tanglewood Music Festival
in 1975. His USA opera debut was at the Metropolitan Opera
, New York, in 1983, conducting a production of Beethoven's Fidelio. He also guest-conducted with the Philadelphia Orchestra
, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
His London debut was with the London Symphony Orchestra
in 1976. In 1977 came his first engagement with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
(LPO), which led to his appointment as the LPO's Principal Guest Conductor in 1980, and eventually as Principal Conductor in 1983. Due to ill-health, however, he stepped down in 1987, and he was later named the LPO's Conductor Laureate. He did return to the LPO for concerts of Mahler in November 1991 (Symphony No. 6) and May 1993 (Symphony No.7). However, on the advice of his physicians, Tennstedt retired from conducting altogether in October 1994.
His recordings include a complete cycle of the symphonies of Gustav Mahler
. Several of Tennstedt's concert performances have been reissued on CD.
Merseburg
Merseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
; he conducted such orchestras as the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a radio orchestra based in Stockholm, Sweden, and affiliated with Sveriges Radio . The orchestra broadcasts concerts on the Swedish Radio-P2 network....
; Kiel Opera in Northern Germany; North German Radio Orchestra, in Hamburg; the Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
; and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
.
Life and career
He studied violin and piano at the Leipzig Conservatory. He became concertmaster of the orchestra at the Halle Municipal Theatre in 1948. However, a finger injury stopped his career as a violinist, and afterwards he worked as a coach to singers at the same theatre. Tennstedt then directed his talents toward conducting. In 1958, he became music director of the Dresden Opera, and in 1962, music director of the Schwerin State Orchestra and Theatre.Tennstedt emigrated from East Germany in 1971 and obtained asylum in Sweden. He conducted in Gothenburg with the Göteborg Theatre and in Stockholm with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a radio orchestra based in Stockholm, Sweden, and affiliated with Sveriges Radio . The orchestra broadcasts concerts on the Swedish Radio-P2 network....
. In 1972, he became General Music Director of the Kiel Opera
Kiel Opera House
The Peabody Opera House is a civic performing arts building in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded as the Kiel Opera House, it opened it 1934 and operated until 1991, when it and the adjacent Kiel Auditorium were closed so the auditorium could be demolished and replaced by the Scottrade Center...
in Northern Germany. From 1979 to 1982, he served as Chief Conductor of the North German Radio Orchestra in Hamburg, and during the same period (1979-1982) he was Chief Guest Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra.
In 1974, Tennstedt made his North American debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
. His first US appearance was shortly after that, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
, in December 1974, conducting Bruckner's Symphony No. 8. In Norman Lebrecht's The Maestro Myth, the story was told that when the Boston management asked Tennstedt what he wanted to conduct, he replied: "You mean I get to choose?" His appearances were highly acclaimed, and as a result, Tennstedt guest-conducted at the Tanglewood Music Festival
Tanglewood Music Festival
The Tanglewood Music Festival is a music festival held every summer on the Tanglewood estate in Lenox, Massachusetts in the Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts....
in 1975. His USA opera debut was at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, New York, in 1983, conducting a production of Beethoven's Fidelio. He also guest-conducted with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
His London debut was with the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
in 1976. In 1977 came his first engagement with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
(LPO), which led to his appointment as the LPO's Principal Guest Conductor in 1980, and eventually as Principal Conductor in 1983. Due to ill-health, however, he stepped down in 1987, and he was later named the LPO's Conductor Laureate. He did return to the LPO for concerts of Mahler in November 1991 (Symphony No. 6) and May 1993 (Symphony No.7). However, on the advice of his physicians, Tennstedt retired from conducting altogether in October 1994.
His recordings include a complete cycle of the symphonies of Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
. Several of Tennstedt's concert performances have been reissued on CD.