Richard Lert
Encyclopedia
Richard Lert was an American conductor
of Austrian birth. Born in Vienna
, he was the younger brother of stage director Ernst Lert
. After graduating with a music degree from the University of Vienna
, he took a conducting post at the Opernhaus Düsseldorf
in 1910. He left there in 1912 to take a similar position at the Staatstheater Darmstadt where he remained for four years. In 1916 he married novelist Vicki Baum
and that same year joined the conducting staff of the Opern- und Schauspielhaus Frankfurt.
From 1919-1923 Lert served as the music director of the Staatsoper Hannover
and from 1923-1928 he was music director of the National Theatre Mannheim. He was thereafter active as a guest conductor with several opera companies and orchestras during the late 1920s and early 1930s. His base of operations during that period was Berlin and he appeared as a guest conductor frequently with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
From 1936-1972 Lert served as the music director and conductor of the Pasadena Symphony. In 1947 he co-founded the Music Academy of the West
in Santa Barbara, California, serving on the faculty there for many years. In 1964 he was awarded the Golden Baton Award from the American Symphony Orchestra League. He died at the age of 94 in Mountain View, California
. His papers are held in the collection at the labrary of the University of Southern California
where he was also a faculty member.
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...
of Austrian birth. Born in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, he was the younger brother of stage director Ernst Lert
Ernst Lert
Ernst Joseph Maria Lert, originally Ernst Joseph Maria Levy was an Austrian stage director, writer, composer, librettist, and music historian. He was the brother of conductor Richard Lert who was married to writer Vicki Baum.Lert studied music history, piano, and singing at the University of Vienna...
. After graduating with a music degree from the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, he took a conducting post at the Opernhaus Düsseldorf
Opernhaus Düsseldorf
right|thumb|200 px|Opernhaus Düsseldorf in 1959Opernhaus Düsseldorf ' is located in Düsseldorf, Germany and is one of two opera houses where performances are given by the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. The other is the Theater Duisburg in Duisburg...
in 1910. He left there in 1912 to take a similar position at the Staatstheater Darmstadt where he remained for four years. In 1916 he married novelist Vicki Baum
Vicki Baum
Hedwig Baum was an Austrian writer. She is known for Menschen im Hotel , one of her first international successes....
and that same year joined the conducting staff of the Opern- und Schauspielhaus Frankfurt.
From 1919-1923 Lert served as the music director of the Staatsoper Hannover
Staatsoper Hannover
Staatsoper Hannover is an opera house and opera company in Hanover. It is one of the leading opera companies in Germany.During the course of its season from September to June, Staatsoper Hannover mounts productions of a variety of operas from the standard operatic repertoire as well as 20th century...
and from 1923-1928 he was music director of the National Theatre Mannheim. He was thereafter active as a guest conductor with several opera companies and orchestras during the late 1920s and early 1930s. His base of operations during that period was Berlin and he appeared as a guest conductor frequently with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
From 1936-1972 Lert served as the music director and conductor of the Pasadena Symphony. In 1947 he co-founded the Music Academy of the West
Music Academy of the West
The Music Academy of the West is a music conservatory located in Montecito, California near Santa Barbara, California. Every year, it hosts a summer music festival for the community highlighted by concerts and workshops directed by famous composers, conductors, and artists.A yearly maximum of 135...
in Santa Barbara, California, serving on the faculty there for many years. In 1964 he was awarded the Golden Baton Award from the American Symphony Orchestra League. He died at the age of 94 in Mountain View, California
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
. His papers are held in the collection at the labrary of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
where he was also a faculty member.