Bernhard Kontarsky
Encyclopedia
Bernhard Kontarsky is a German conductor
, pianist
, and teacher.
Kontarsky studied at the Hochschule für Musik Köln
. In 1964 he began his conducting career as Kapellmeister at the Staatstheater Stuttgart
. From 1981 Kontarsky has been Professor of orchestral conducting at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
.
Kontarsky is well regarded as a specialist in new music
. Amongst other things, he conducted the world premieres of El Rey de Harlem by Hans Werner Henze
(1982), Die Erschöpfung der Welt by Mauricio Kagel
(1980) (Herbort 1980), Don Quijote de la Mancha by Hans Zender
(1993) (Anon. 1993), Sansibar by Eckehard Mayer (13 April 1994) (Horres et al. 1993), as well as the first German performance of the opera Die Wände by Adriana Hölszky, at the Frankfurt Opera, on 30 January 2000 (Anon. [2008]; Anon. 2009; Ross 2000). In 1988 he directed a well-regarded production in Stuttgart of the opera Die Soldaten
by Bernd Alois Zimmermann
, a work he was previously involved with as co-repetiteur for the world premiere in 1965. This led to the second commercial recording of the work, released on CD in 1991 (Clements 1992). He also conducted the French premiere of Die Soldaten in April 1994 at the Opéra-Bastille (Jarry 1994).
Kontarsky is the younger brother of the duo pianists Aloys and Alfons Kontarsky
, with whom he has occasionally appeared in a triple-piano ensemble.
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...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and teacher.
Kontarsky studied at the Hochschule für Musik Köln
Hochschule für Musik Köln
The Cologne University of Music is a music college in Cologne, and Germany's largest academy of music.-History:The academy was founded by Ferdinand Hiller in 1850 as Conservatorium der Musik in Coeln...
. In 1964 he began his conducting career as Kapellmeister at the Staatstheater Stuttgart
Staatstheater Stuttgart
The Staatstheater Stuttgart ' is an opera house in Stuttgart, Germany. It is also known locally as the Grosses Haus, having been the larger of two theatres of the former Königliche Hoftheater....
. From 1981 Kontarsky has been Professor of orchestral conducting at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
The Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts is a state Hochschule for Music, Theater and Dance in Frankfurt and is the only one of its kind in the Federal State of Hesse. It was founded in 1938....
.
Kontarsky is well regarded as a specialist in new music
20th century classical music
20th century classical music was without a dominant style and highly diverse.-Introduction:At the turn of the century, music was characteristically late Romantic in style. Composers such as Gustav Mahler and Jean Sibelius were pushing the bounds of Post-Romantic Symphonic writing...
. Amongst other things, he conducted the world premieres of El Rey de Harlem by Hans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze is a German composer of prodigious output best known for "his consistent cultivation of music for the theatre throughout his life"...
(1982), Die Erschöpfung der Welt by Mauricio Kagel
Mauricio Kagel
Mauricio Kagel was a German-Argentine composer. He was notable for his interest in developing the theatrical side of musical performance .-Biography:...
(1980) (Herbort 1980), Don Quijote de la Mancha by Hans Zender
Hans Zender
Johannes Wolfgang Zender is a German conductor and composer.-Life:From 1956 to 1959 Zender studied piano, conducting, and composition at the Hochschule für Musik Frankfurt and at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg.From 1959 to 1963 he was Kapellmeister of the Municipal Theatres in Freiburg im...
(1993) (Anon. 1993), Sansibar by Eckehard Mayer (13 April 1994) (Horres et al. 1993), as well as the first German performance of the opera Die Wände by Adriana Hölszky, at the Frankfurt Opera, on 30 January 2000 (Anon. [2008]; Anon. 2009; Ross 2000). In 1988 he directed a well-regarded production in Stuttgart of the opera Die Soldaten
Die Soldaten
Die Soldaten is a four act opera in German by German composer Bernd Alois Zimmermann, based on the 1776 play by Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz. It is dedicated to Hans Rosbaud. Zimmermann himself faithfully adapted the play into the libretto, the only changes to the text being repeats and small cuts...
by Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Bernd Alois Zimmermann was a post-WWII West German composer. He is perhaps best known for his opera Die Soldaten which is regarded as one of the most important operas of the 20th century...
, a work he was previously involved with as co-repetiteur for the world premiere in 1965. This led to the second commercial recording of the work, released on CD in 1991 (Clements 1992). He also conducted the French premiere of Die Soldaten in April 1994 at the Opéra-Bastille (Jarry 1994).
Kontarsky is the younger brother of the duo pianists Aloys and Alfons Kontarsky
Aloys and Alfons Kontarsky
Aloys and Alfons Kontarsky were German duo-pianist brothers who were associated with a number of important world premieres of contemporary works. They had an international reputation for performing modern music for two pianists, although they also performed the standard repertoire and they...
, with whom he has occasionally appeared in a triple-piano ensemble.