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Helmut Koch (conductor)

December 15, 2023

Helmut Koch (5 April 1908 – 26 January 1975) was a German conductor, choir leader, composer, and academic teacher. He was recording manager for the Berliner Rundfunk from 1945, where he founded the Solistenvereinigung Berlin, the Kammerorchester Berlin and the Großer Chor des Berliner Rundfunks. He conducted a recording of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo in 1949, and later also contemporary music by composers including Hanns Eisler, Fritz Geißler, Ernst Hermann Meyer and Ruth Zechlin. He was professor at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" from its beginning. After working as a regular guest conductor at the Staatsoper Berlin, he became Generalmusikdirektor. He was the first conductor of the Berliner Singakademie in East Berlin, and held the position until his death.

Helmut Koch
Koch in 1955
Born(1908-04-05)5 April 1908
Barmen, German Empire
Died26 January 1975(1975-01-26) (aged 66)
East Berlin, East Germany
Education
Occupations
  • Conductor
  • Composer
  • Academic teacher
Organizations
Awards

Life and career edit

Koch was born in Barmen, now part of Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia.[1][2] As buying a piano was unaffordable for his parents, Koch learned to play the violin from the age of twelve. When he was age 16 the family moved to Essen. The violin lessons were continued, and Koch also took lessons in music theory and composition after leaving the Realgymnasium.[2] He studied at the Rheinische Musikschule [de] in Cologne and stayed there until the founding of the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen.[2] Although he had plans for a career as a conductor, he fulfilled his parents' wish to focus on pedagogy, and took a private music teacher's examination in 1928.[1]

In 1928, Koch met Hermann Scherchen as a participant in a conducting course. The latter suggested that he participate in a four-week music festival in Winterthur (Switzerland) as a violinist and viola player in order to broaden his knowledge of orchestral playing. During this time, Scherchen decided to train Koch as a private student[3] and also helped him to find work as a sound engineer and assistant with conducting duties at the then Ostmarken Rundfunk AG [de] in Königsberg.[2] In 1931, he moved to Berlin where he took over the direction of workers' choirs,[4] including the Berliner Schubertchor.[3]

In 1938, Koch became recording manager (Aufnahmeleiter) for the record company Schallplatten AG Carl Lindström.[1] He was a member of the Nazi party.[5] He was drafted to the Volkssturm in February 1945.[2]

Immediately after the war, Koch became recording manager for the Berliner Rundfunk, where he founded the Solistenvereinigung des Berliner Rundfunks[2] and the Kammerorchester Berlin.[3] He founded the Großer Chor des Berliner Rundfunks in 1948.[3][2] Koch was a candidate for the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (SED) in 1950, and a member from 1954.[2][6] In the 1950s, he was appointed professor of conducting at the new Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler".[7] Koch was a regular guest conductor at the Staatsoper Berlin from 1960 where he led Handel's Giulio Cesare and Ezio, among others.[2] He was instrumental in a revival of Handel's oratorios which he also conducted at the Halle Handel Festival.[4] Koch was appointed Generalmusikdirektor (GMD) in 1963.[1]

Koch, committed to the close cooperation of professional and amateur artists, became the first conductor of the Berliner Singakademie in 1963 after the Berlin Wall was built, founded then to continue the tradition of the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin also in the East.[2][8] He held the position until his death.[9]

Koch died in Berlin aged 66.[2]

Recordings edit

Koch's recordings of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo in 1949, with the Solistenvereinigung and the Kammerochester,[1][3] and of Folk songs and madrigals of the 17th and 18th centuries were awarded the Grand Prix du Disque. He conducted Ein deutsches Requiem by Brahms in the 1950s, with soloists Anna Tomowa-Sintow and Günther Leib. Beginning in the 1960s, he recorded Mozart works, including the Great Mass in C minor and the operas Bastien und Bastienne and Der Schauspieldirektor.[3] He recorded Haydn's Die Schöpfung,[10] concertos by Telemann and Vivaldi, and Bach's Brandenburg Concertos.[3] His repertoire also included works by Mendelssohn and contemporary music. In particular, he promoted the works Hanns Eisler, Fritz Geißler, Ernst Hermann Meyer, and Ruth Zechlin.[2]

For VEB Deutsche Schallplatten: Eterna[1]

Awards edit

Koch was twice awarded the National Prize of the GDR for art and literature, in 1949 third class, and in 1959 second class.[2] In 1959, he was awarded the Handel Prize. In 1965, he was elected a full member of the Academy of Arts of the German Democratic Republic. In 1968, he was awarded the Vaterländischer Verdienstorden in silver and 1973 in gold.[11][12]

View of music edit

For Koch, music old and new was a medium able to transform people; therefore composers and performers should handle it responsibly. He rejected a division of old and new music, saying: "Everything we do, we do for the people who live now, and who think and feel as today's. ("Alles, was wir machen, machen wir für die Menschen, die jetzt leben, als Heutige denken und empfinden.")[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Allihn, Ingeborg (2020). "Koch, Helmut". MGG (in German). Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Koch, Helmut (in German). Vol. 1 (5th ed.). Berlin: Ch. Links. 2010. ISBN 978-3-86153-561-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Cummings, Robert. "Helmut Koch". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b Scharfer, Hans Jürgen (25 January 1995). "Vor 20 Jahren starb der Dirigent Helmut Koch / Alter und neuer Musik verbunden". Neues Deutschland (in German). Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. ^ Harry Waibel: Diener vieler Herren. Ehemalige NS-Funktionäre in der SBZ/DDR. Peter Lang, Frankfurt u. a. 2011, ISBN 978-3-631-63542-1, pp. 172–173.
  6. ^ Berliner Singakademie
  7. ^ "The History of the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin". Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler". Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  8. ^ Berliner Singakademie
  9. ^ a b "Direktion". Berliner Singakademie. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  10. ^ "CD's & DVD's". Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin}. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  11. ^ Neues Deutschland, 19 April 1968, p. 2
  12. ^ Neues Deutschland, 6 October 1973, p. 3

Further reading edit

  • Gabriele Baumgartner, Dieter Hebig (eds.): Biographisches Handbuch der SBZ/DDR. 1945–1990. vol. 1: Abendroth – Lyr. K. G. Saur, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-598-11176-2, p. 410
  • Monika Arlt, Liane Kaven, Lars Klingberg, Nikolaus Sander (eds.): 50 Jahre Berliner Singakademie, be.bra.verlag 2013

External links edit

  • Literature by and about Helmut Koch (conductor) in the German National Library catalogue
  • Helmut Koch at AllMusic
  • Helmut Koch discography at Discogs  
  • Helmut Koch music.metason.net
  • Helmut Koch Hall in the Haus des Rundfunks, Berlin respa.de
  • Helmut Koch (Conductor) Bach Cantatas Website

December 15, 2023
helmut, koch, conductor, helmut, koch, april, 1908, january, 1975, german, conductor, choir, leader, composer, academic, teacher, recording, manager, berliner, rundfunk, from, 1945, where, founded, solistenvereinigung, berlin, kammerorchester, berlin, großer, . Helmut Koch 5 April 1908 26 January 1975 was a German conductor choir leader composer and academic teacher He was recording manager for the Berliner Rundfunk from 1945 where he founded the Solistenvereinigung Berlin the Kammerorchester Berlin and the Grosser Chor des Berliner Rundfunks He conducted a recording of Monteverdi s L Orfeo in 1949 and later also contemporary music by composers including Hanns Eisler Fritz Geissler Ernst Hermann Meyer and Ruth Zechlin He was professor at the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler from its beginning After working as a regular guest conductor at the Staatsoper Berlin he became Generalmusikdirektor He was the first conductor of the Berliner Singakademie in East Berlin and held the position until his death Helmut KochKoch in 1955Born 1908 04 05 5 April 1908Barmen German EmpireDied26 January 1975 1975 01 26 aged 66 East Berlin East GermanyEducationRheinische Musikschule Folkwang HochschuleOccupationsConductor Composer Academic teacherOrganizationsBerliner Rundfunk Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler Staatsoper Berlin Berliner SingakademieAwardsNational Prize of the GDR Handel Prize Vaterlandischer Verdienstorden Contents 1 Life and career 2 Recordings 3 Awards 4 View of music 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksLife and career editKoch was born in Barmen now part of Wuppertal North Rhine Westphalia 1 2 As buying a piano was unaffordable for his parents Koch learned to play the violin from the age of twelve When he was age 16 the family moved to Essen The violin lessons were continued and Koch also took lessons in music theory and composition after leaving the Realgymnasium 2 He studied at the Rheinische Musikschule de in Cologne and stayed there until the founding of the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen 2 Although he had plans for a career as a conductor he fulfilled his parents wish to focus on pedagogy and took a private music teacher s examination in 1928 1 In 1928 Koch met Hermann Scherchen as a participant in a conducting course The latter suggested that he participate in a four week music festival in Winterthur Switzerland as a violinist and viola player in order to broaden his knowledge of orchestral playing During this time Scherchen decided to train Koch as a private student 3 and also helped him to find work as a sound engineer and assistant with conducting duties at the then Ostmarken Rundfunk AG de in Konigsberg 2 In 1931 he moved to Berlin where he took over the direction of workers choirs 4 including the Berliner Schubertchor 3 In 1938 Koch became recording manager Aufnahmeleiter for the record company Schallplatten AG Carl Lindstrom 1 He was a member of the Nazi party 5 He was drafted to the Volkssturm in February 1945 2 Immediately after the war Koch became recording manager for the Berliner Rundfunk where he founded the Solistenvereinigung des Berliner Rundfunks 2 and the Kammerorchester Berlin 3 He founded the Grosser Chor des Berliner Rundfunks in 1948 3 2 Koch was a candidate for the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands SED in 1950 and a member from 1954 2 6 In the 1950s he was appointed professor of conducting at the new Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler 7 Koch was a regular guest conductor at the Staatsoper Berlin from 1960 where he led Handel s Giulio Cesare and Ezio among others 2 He was instrumental in a revival of Handel s oratorios which he also conducted at the Halle Handel Festival 4 Koch was appointed Generalmusikdirektor GMD in 1963 1 Koch committed to the close cooperation of professional and amateur artists became the first conductor of the Berliner Singakademie in 1963 after the Berlin Wall was built founded then to continue the tradition of the Sing Akademie zu Berlin also in the East 2 8 He held the position until his death 9 Koch died in Berlin aged 66 2 Recordings editKoch s recordings of Monteverdi s L Orfeo in 1949 with the Solistenvereinigung and the Kammerochester 1 3 and of Folk songs and madrigals of the 17th and 18th centuries were awarded the Grand Prix du Disque He conducted Ein deutsches Requiem by Brahms in the 1950s with soloists Anna Tomowa Sintow and Gunther Leib Beginning in the 1960s he recorded Mozart works including the Great Mass in C minor and the operas Bastien und Bastienne and Der Schauspieldirektor 3 He recorded Haydn s Die Schopfung 10 concertos by Telemann and Vivaldi and Bach s Brandenburg Concertos 3 His repertoire also included works by Mendelssohn and contemporary music In particular he promoted the works Hanns Eisler Fritz Geissler Ernst Hermann Meyer and Ruth Zechlin 2 For VEB Deutsche Schallplatten Eterna 1 Monteverdi L Orfeo 1949 Haydn Die Jahreszeiten 1966 Haydn Nelsonmesse 1971 Handel Judas Maccabaeus 1966 Meyer Mansfelder Oratorium 1969 Telemann Pimpinone 1964 Telemann Die Tageszeiten 1969 Zechlin Wenn der Wacholder bluht 1969 Beethoven Christus am Olberge Op 85 1970 Bach Brandenburg Concertos 1972 and 1974 Handel Der Messias 1973 Mozart Bastien und Bastienne 1965 Awards editKoch was twice awarded the National Prize of the GDR for art and literature in 1949 third class and in 1959 second class 2 In 1959 he was awarded the Handel Prize In 1965 he was elected a full member of the Academy of Arts of the German Democratic Republic In 1968 he was awarded the Vaterlandischer Verdienstorden in silver and 1973 in gold 11 12 View of music editFor Koch music old and new was a medium able to transform people therefore composers and performers should handle it responsibly He rejected a division of old and new music saying Everything we do we do for the people who live now and who think and feel as today s Alles was wir machen machen wir fur die Menschen die jetzt leben als Heutige denken und empfinden 9 References edit a b c d e f Allihn Ingeborg 2020 Koch Helmut MGG in German Retrieved 19 November 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Koch Helmut in German Vol 1 5th ed Berlin Ch Links 2010 ISBN 978 3 86153 561 4 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help a b c d e f g Cummings Robert Helmut Koch AllMusic Retrieved 19 November 2020 a b Scharfer Hans Jurgen 25 January 1995 Vor 20 Jahren starb der Dirigent Helmut Koch Alter und neuer Musik verbunden Neues Deutschland in German Retrieved 19 November 2020 Harry Waibel Diener vieler Herren Ehemalige NS Funktionare in der SBZ DDR Peter Lang Frankfurt u a 2011 ISBN 978 3 631 63542 1 pp 172 173 Helmut Koch 1908 1975 Berliner Singakademie The History of the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler Retrieved 19 November 2020 Grundung der Berliner Singakademie Berliner Singakademie a b Direktion Berliner Singakademie Retrieved 19 November 2020 CD s amp DVD s Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin Retrieved 19 November 2020 Neues Deutschland 19 April 1968 p 2 Neues Deutschland 6 October 1973 p 3Further reading editGabriele Baumgartner Dieter Hebig eds Biographisches Handbuch der SBZ DDR 1945 1990 vol 1 Abendroth Lyr K G Saur Munich 1996 ISBN 3 598 11176 2 p 410 Monika Arlt Liane Kaven Lars Klingberg Nikolaus Sander eds 50 Jahre Berliner Singakademie be bra verlag 2013External links editLiterature by and about Helmut Koch conductor in the German National Library catalogue Helmut Koch at AllMusic Helmut Koch discography at Discogs nbsp Helmut Koch music metason net Helmut Koch Hall in the Haus des Rundfunks Berlin respa de Helmut Koch Conductor Bach Cantatas WebsitePortals nbsp Classical music nbsp Germany Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Helmut Koch conductor amp oldid 1111345389, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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