Rudolf Alberth (writing into the 1950s: Albert) (28 March 1918 – 29 May 1992) was a German

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Biology and medicine * Bone conduction, the conduction of sound to the inner ear * Conduction aphasia, a language disorder Mathematics * Conductor (ring theory) * Conductor of an abelian variety * Cond ...

. Born in

Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

, Alberth originally studied in composition at the

Hoch Conservatory Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium – Musikakademie was founded in Frankfurt am Main on 22 September 1878. Through the generosity of Frankfurter Joseph Hoch, who bequeathed the Conservatory one million German gold marks in his testament, a school for ...

, however instead took up interest as a conductor and made his conducting debut in 1945. Alberth was strongly committed to

contemporary music Contemporary music is whatever music is produced at the current time. Specifically, it could refer to: Genres or audiences * Adult contemporary music * British contemporary R&B * Christian adult contemporary * Christian contemporary hit radio * Con ...

, in particular with the

Bayerischer Rundfunk (; "Bavarian Broadcasting"), shortened to BR (), is a public broadcasting, public-service radio and television broadcaster, based in Munich, capital city of the Bavaria, Free State of Bavaria in Germany. BR is a member organization of the ARD (b ...

and conducted numerous world premieres at home and abroad. In the 1950s he collaborated with

Olivier Messiaen Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithology, ornithologist. One of the major composers of the 20th-century classical music, 20th century, he was also an ou ...

in Paris and conducted the premiere of Messiaen's composition '' Oiseaux exotiques'' in the

Théâtre Marigny The Théâtre Marigny () is a theatre in Paris, situated near the junction of the Champs-Élysées and the Avenue Marigny in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, 8th arrondissement. It was originally built to designs of the architect Charles Garnie ...

on 10 March 1956. In 1964 Alberth was appointed principal conductor of the

Niedersächsisches Symphonie-Orchester The Niedersächsische Symphonie-Orchester (original name:Niedersachsenorchester, later: Niedersächsisches Symphonie-Orchester) from Hanover (NSO) was founded in 1934. Chief conductor until 1938 was Fritz Lehmann. History At the beginning of ...

in Hannover which he conducted until the dissolution of the orchestra at the end of the 1967/1968 concert season. Alberth has left numerous recordings in the BR archives, including his own works; commercial recordings are also available from Telefunken and the French ''Club de Disques''. He is the author of a book in which he presents personal experiences and reflections on music: ''Da capo. Heiteres und Nachdenkliches aus meinem Musikerleben'', Munich: Langen Müller 1980. Alberth died in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

at age 74.

References

External links

*
Rudolf Alberth
on Munich University * {{DEFAULTSORT:Alberth, Rudolf 1918 births 1992 deaths Musicians from Frankfurt German composers 20th-century German conductors (music) 20th-century German musicians