Borchard was born in Moscow to German parents, and grew up in Saint Petersburg where he received a solid musical education, as well being a regular visitor to the Stanislavsky Theatre. In 1920, after the Russian Revolution, he emigrated to Germany. Otto Klemperer engaged him as his assistant at the Kroll Opera in Berlin (Klemperer, lacking confidence in his own abilities, expected Borchard to critique his conducting technique).[1] He conducted the Berlin Philharmonic for the first time in January 1933. In 1935, he was banned by the Nazi regime as politically unreliable. He continued teaching at his apartment and received his friends, including Boris Blacher and Gottfried von Einem.[2]
During World War II he remained in Berlin as a Resistance activist under the name Andrik Krassnow, during which time his duties included contact with Ludwig Lichtwitz, a specialist in false identity papers.
After a concert on 23 August 1945 Borchard and his partner Ruth Andreas-Friedrich were invited to dinner by a British colonel. The pair had a wonderful evening especially as it gave them the chance to eat real meat and white sandwiches. Afterwards there was whiskey to enjoy as they discussed music and other subjects with their host. There was a curfew at 10.45pm, but the colonel assured them there was no need to hurry home as he would drive them home in his official car.[5] Unfortunately there had been a gunfight between some drunk Americans and Russians the previous night which meant the checkpoints were on edge in Berlin. Their British driver misinterpreted an American sentry's hand signal to stop at the checkpoint on the border between the British and American sectors at Kaiserplatz (today called Bundesplatz [de], in Wilmersdorf, a borough of Berlin) and drove through. This caused the sentries to open fire on the car killing Borchard instantly.[6] The British driver and Andreas-Friedrich survived. As a result of this incident, it was decided to mark military checkpoints more prominently so that hand signals were not required.[6]
MemorialsEdit
In 1943 Gottfried von Einem dedicated his Capriccio for Orchestra, op. 2 to him. Borchard also conducted the world premiere with the Berlin Philharmonic on 11 March 1943.
In October 1988, a Berlin memorial plaque was unveiled on former the home of Andreas-Friedrich and Borchard.
In April 1990, the music school in the Berlin district of Steglitz was named the Leo-Borchard-Musikschule (Leo Borchard Music School). Today it is considered the largest music school in Germany.
On 5 and 6 September 1995 Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic marked the anniversary of Borchard's death with performances of Mahler's 6th Symphony.[2]
RecordingsEdit
Boccherini – Minuet
Delibes – Mazurka & Valse Lente from Coppelia
Françaix – Piano Concertino
Glazounov – Stenka Razin*
Puccini – orchestral selection from Tosca
Rebikov – Berceuse
Suppé – Overture to Banditenstreiche
Tchaikovsky – Fantasy Overture, Romeo and Juliet*; Excerpts from The Nutcracker
^Heyworth, Peter (1983). Otto Klemperer, His Life and Times: Volume 1, 1885-1933. Cambridge University Press. p. 385. ISBN0-521-24488-9.
^ abFriedrich, Ruth-Andreas. Der Schattenmann – Tagebuch Aufzeichnungen 1938-1945. Surhrkamp Verlag, 1947; as quoted in notes by Myriam Scherchen and René Trémine for CD Tahra 520.
^Monod, David (2005). Settling Scores: German Music, Denazification, & the Americans, 1945-1953. University of North Carolina Press. p. 75. ISBN0-8078-2944-7.
^Jähner, Harald (2019). Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich 1945-1955 (Paperback). London: W H Allen. p. 269. ISBN9780753557877.
^ abStivers, William (2004). "Victors and Vanquished: Americans as Occupiers in Berlin. 1945-1949". In Combat Studies Institute (ed.). Armed Diplomacy: Two Centuries of American Campaigning. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 161. ISBN1-4289-1650-4.
^Discographical details from Darrell R D. The Gramophone Shop Encyclopedia of Recorded Music. The Gramophone Shop Inc, New York, 1936, and the Classic Record Collector review.
ReferencesEdit
Gary Lemco (March 2005). "Leo Borchard conducts Berlin Philharmonic". Audiophile Audition. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
September 01, 2023
borchard, ljewitsch, borchard, march, 1899, august, 1945, german, russian, conductor, briefly, musical, director, berlin, philharmonic, contents, biography, memorials, recordings, notes, referencesbiography, editborchard, born, moscow, german, parents, grew, s. Lew Ljewitsch Leo Borchard 31 March 1899 23 August 1945 was a German Russian conductor and briefly musical director of the Berlin Philharmonic Leo Borchard Contents 1 Biography 2 Memorials 3 Recordings 4 Notes 5 ReferencesBiography EditBorchard was born in Moscow to German parents and grew up in Saint Petersburg where he received a solid musical education as well being a regular visitor to the Stanislavsky Theatre In 1920 after the Russian Revolution he emigrated to Germany Otto Klemperer engaged him as his assistant at the Kroll Opera in Berlin Klemperer lacking confidence in his own abilities expected Borchard to critique his conducting technique 1 He conducted the Berlin Philharmonic for the first time in January 1933 In 1935 he was banned by the Nazi regime as politically unreliable He continued teaching at his apartment and received his friends including Boris Blacher and Gottfried von Einem 2 During World War II he remained in Berlin as a Resistance activist under the name Andrik Krassnow during which time his duties included contact with Ludwig Lichtwitz a specialist in false identity papers nbsp Memorial Berlin Steglitz GermanyOn 26 May 1945 two and a half weeks after Germany s unconditional surrender he conducted the Berlin Philharmonic at the Titania Palast cinema in a concert featuring the Overture to Mendelssohn s A Midsummer Night s Dream Mozart s Violin Concerto in A major and Tchaikovsky s Symphony No 4 to great public acclaim 3 One week later he was appointed musical director of the orchestra by the Soviet official Nikolai Berzarin replacing Wilhelm Furtwangler who was in exile in Switzerland His anti Nazi credentials and command of the Russian language enabled him to enjoy a close relationship with the occupiers 4 He gave 22 concerts in total as chief conductor of the BPO After a concert on 23 August 1945 Borchard and his partner Ruth Andreas Friedrich were invited to dinner by a British colonel The pair had a wonderful evening especially as it gave them the chance to eat real meat and white sandwiches Afterwards there was whiskey to enjoy as they discussed music and other subjects with their host There was a curfew at 10 45pm but the colonel assured them there was no need to hurry home as he would drive them home in his official car 5 Unfortunately there had been a gunfight between some drunk Americans and Russians the previous night which meant the checkpoints were on edge in Berlin Their British driver misinterpreted an American sentry s hand signal to stop at the checkpoint on the border between the British and American sectors at Kaiserplatz today called Bundesplatz de in Wilmersdorf a borough of Berlin and drove through This caused the sentries to open fire on the car killing Borchard instantly 6 The British driver and Andreas Friedrich survived As a result of this incident it was decided to mark military checkpoints more prominently so that hand signals were not required 6 Memorials EditIn 1943 Gottfried von Einem dedicated his Capriccio for Orchestra op 2 to him Borchard also conducted the world premiere with the Berlin Philharmonic on 11 March 1943 In October 1988 a Berlin memorial plaque was unveiled on former the home of Andreas Friedrich and Borchard In April 1990 the music school in the Berlin district of Steglitz was named the Leo Borchard Musikschule Leo Borchard Music School Today it is considered the largest music school in Germany On 5 and 6 September 1995 Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic marked the anniversary of Borchard s death with performances of Mahler s 6th Symphony 2 Recordings EditBoccherini Minuet Delibes Mazurka amp Valse Lente from Coppelia Francaix Piano Concertino Glazounov Stenka Razin Puccini orchestral selection from Tosca Rebikov Berceuse Suppe Overture to Banditenstreiche Tchaikovsky Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet Excerpts from The Nutcracker Wagner Wotan s Farewell Weber Overture Oberon broadcasts from June 1945 7 Notes Edit Heyworth Peter 1983 Otto Klemperer His Life and Times Volume 1 1885 1933 Cambridge University Press p 385 ISBN 0 521 24488 9 a b Friedrich Ruth Andreas Der Schattenmann Tagebuch Aufzeichnungen 1938 1945 Surhrkamp Verlag 1947 as quoted in notes by Myriam Scherchen and Rene Tremine for CD Tahra 520 Patmore D Review of Tahra CD 520 Classic Record Collector August 2004 Monod David 2005 Settling Scores German Music Denazification amp the Americans 1945 1953 University of North Carolina Press p 75 ISBN 0 8078 2944 7 Jahner Harald 2019 Aftermath Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich 1945 1955 Paperback London W H Allen p 269 ISBN 9780753557877 a b Stivers William 2004 Victors and Vanquished Americans as Occupiers in Berlin 1945 1949 In Combat Studies Institute ed Armed Diplomacy Two Centuries of American Campaigning Fort Leavenworth KS Combat Studies Institute Press p 161 ISBN 1 4289 1650 4 Discographical details from Darrell R D The Gramophone Shop Encyclopedia of Recorded Music The Gramophone Shop Inc New York 1936 and the Classic Record Collector review References EditGary Lemco March 2005 Leo Borchard conducts Berlin Philharmonic Audiophile Audition Retrieved 2007 08 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leo Borchard amp oldid 1150455009, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
