Hans Lange
Encyclopedia
Hans Lange was a German-American conductor
and musician
. He was a son of Paul Lange
, who had been a lecturer for music at the American College for Girls and German High School Istanbul in the 1890s, and later was appointed the Sultan's director of music. Hans Lange himself was an alumnus of German High School Istanbul.
Lange was educated in Prague and other European cities. After assignments in several German cities, for example in Bielefeld
, he entered the United States in 1925 with a German orchestra to give concerts. The orchestra was dissolved during the tour, and Lange had to re-start his career. In the 1930s he worked at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was assistant of Arturo Toscanini
, and rehearsed almost all his performances. At that time he also worked on his own as a conductor: he recorded one of his Wagner concerts with the famous soprano Kirsten Flagstad
for HMV Records.
In 1936–1943 he worked as Associate Conductor and later became Conductor (1943–46) of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
. As he had not taken up US citizenship during the war, his contract with CSO was not extended in 1946. In 1950 he started to work with the Albuquerque Civic Symphony, less than two years after his predecessor Kurt Frederick had managed to bring the world premiere of Schoenberg
s "A Survivor from Warsaw
" to Albuquerque in November 1948. Lange transformed the ACS from an amateur ensemble into what is today known as New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
(NMSO) and one of the leading professional orchestras in the United States.
He was a National Patron of Delta Omicron
, an international professional music fraternity.
During his tenure in Chicago, Lange was one of the teachers and mentors of composer Leon Stein
.
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 musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He was a son of Paul Lange
Paul Lange (musician)
Paul Lange was a German musician living and working in Istanbul. He came to the Ottoman capital as lecturer at the American College for Girls...
, who had been a lecturer for music at the American College for Girls and German High School Istanbul in the 1890s, and later was appointed the Sultan's director of music. Hans Lange himself was an alumnus of German High School Istanbul.
Lange was educated in Prague and other European cities. After assignments in several German cities, for example in Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
, he entered the United States in 1925 with a German orchestra to give concerts. The orchestra was dissolved during the tour, and Lange had to re-start his career. In the 1930s he worked at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was assistant of Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
, and rehearsed almost all his performances. At that time he also worked on his own as a conductor: he recorded one of his Wagner concerts with the famous soprano Kirsten Flagstad
Kirsten Flagstad
Kirsten Målfrid Flagstad was a Norwegian opera singer and a highly regarded Wagnerian soprano...
for HMV Records.
In 1936–1943 he worked as Associate Conductor and later became Conductor (1943–46) of 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...
. As he had not taken up US citizenship during the war, his contract with CSO was not extended in 1946. In 1950 he started to work with the Albuquerque Civic Symphony, less than two years after his predecessor Kurt Frederick had managed to bring the world premiere of Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
s "A Survivor from Warsaw
A Survivor from Warsaw
A Survivor from Warsaw, Op. 46, is a work for narrator, men's chorus, and orchestra written by the Austrian composer Arnold Schönberg in 1947. The initial inspiration for the work was a suggestion from the Russian émigrée dancer Corinne Chochem for a work to pay tribute to the Holocaust victims of...
" to Albuquerque in November 1948. Lange transformed the ACS from an amateur ensemble into what is today known as New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 20, 2011, announcing that it would cease operations and existence. Orchestra members were notified of the board's decision to file for bankruptcy by email, a few hours after the vote was taken...
(NMSO) and one of the leading professional orchestras in the United States.
He was a National Patron of Delta Omicron
Delta Omicron
Delta Omicron is a co-ed international professional music honors fraternity whose mission is to promote and support excellence in music and musicianship.-History:...
, an international professional music fraternity.
During his tenure in Chicago, Lange was one of the teachers and mentors of composer Leon Stein
Leon Stein
Leon Stein was an American composer and music analyst.Stein attended DePaul University, where he achieved his MM in 1935 and his Ph.D. in 1949; he studied under Leo Sowerby, Eric DeLamarter, Frederick Stock, and Hans Lange...
.
External links
- TIME, 25 November 1935
- Portrait photo
- Soundclip: Hans Lange conducting the CSO : Ludwig van BeethovenLudwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
, Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 op. 73