Klemperer, Otto

Klemperer, Otto

Otto Klemperer (14 May 1885 – 6 July 1973) was a German conductor and composer. He is widely regarded as one of the leading conductors of the 20th century. Otto Klemperer was born in Breslau, Silesia Province, then in Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), as a son of Nathan Klemperer, a native of Prague, Bohemia (today’s Czech Republic). Klemperer studied music first at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, and later at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin under James Kwast and Hans Pfitzner. He followed Kwast to three institutions and credited him with the whole basis of his musical development. In 1905 he met Gustav Mahler while conducting the off-stage brass at a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Resurrection. He also made a piano reduction of the second symphony. The two men became friends, and Klemperer became conductor at the German Opera in Prague in 1907 on Mahler’s recommendation. Mahler wrote a short testimonial, recommending Klemperer, on a small card which Klemperer kept for the rest of his life. Later, in 1910, Klemperer assisted Mahler in the premiere of his Symphony No. 8, Symphony of a Thousand.

  • Otto Klemperer (Richard Itter Collection Vol.2)

    MP3 Album:
    This release has been sourced from the Richard Itter archive of ‘live’ recordings. The collection is very important for collectors because it has never been released before onto the market. Following the archive’s launch in October 2017 with releases featuring Beecham, Böhm, Cantelli, Karajan, du Pré, Klemperer and Rostropovich, it has received universal praise from both the classical media and record collectors for the excellent sound and performances.
  • Otto Klemperer (Richard Itter Collection Vol.1)

    MP3 Album:
    Despite there being a large number of Otto Klemperer recordings on the market, these Richard Itter tapes of live broadcasts from the Royal Festival Hall and the BBCs Studios in Maida Vale between 1955 and 1956 have never, as far as is known, been released before. Klemperer was always more exciting when caught live and had added urgency as compared to his studio accounts, particuarly at this time before his health deteriorated in later years. His Philharmonia concerts were hugely successful in the mid 1950s when Walter Legge was looking to replace Herbert von Karajan, who was in the process of leaving for the Berlin Philharmonic. As Richard Osborne states in his notes, The winter of 1955-56 marked a new dawn for Klemperer.
  • Otto Klemperer

    Otto Klemperer

    MP3 Album:
    Bach: Suite No.3 BWV 1068/KRSO (Saal 1, Funkhaus, Koln, 17 October 1955) Mozart: Symphony No.29/KRSO (Saal 1, Funkhaus, Koln, 8 February 1954) Beethoven: Symphony No.1/KRSO (Saal 1, Funkhaus, Koln 21 February 1954)
  • Otto Klemperer

    Otto Klemperer

    MP3 Album:
    MENDELSSOHN Midsummer Nights Dream – Incidental Music Käthe Möller-Siepermann (sop) Hanna Ludwig (mezzo) Kölner Rundfunkchor Chorus Master: Karl Kaufhold Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester SAAL 1, FUNKHAUS, COLOGNE, 9-11 JUNE 1955 - BEETHOVEN Symphony No.8 Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester SAAL 1, FUNKHAUS, COLOGNE, 28 MAY 1955 Rehearsal of Beethoven Symphony No. 4 SAAL 1, FUNKHAUS, COLOGNE, 25 OCTOBER 1954
  • Otto Klemperer

    Otto Klemperer

    MP3 Album:
    Brahms: Requiem Elisabeth Grummer, soprano / Herman Prey, baritone Kolner Rundfunkchor / Kolner Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester (Saal 1, Funkhaus, Koln, 20 February 1956) - Mozart: Serenade No.6 in D, K.239 'Serenata Notturna' Kolner Rundfunkchor / Kolner Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester (Saal 1, Funkhaus, Koln, 25 October 1954) - Rehearsal of Brahms Requiem (Saal 1, Funkhaus, Koln, 19 February 1956)

Otto Klemperer (14 May 1885 – 6 July 1973) was a German conductor and composer. He is widely regarded as one of the leading conductors of the 20th century. Otto Klemperer was born in Breslau, Silesia Province, then in Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), as a son of Nathan Klemperer, a native of Prague, Bohemia (today’s Czech Republic). Klemperer studied music first at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, and later at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin under James Kwast and Hans Pfitzner. He followed Kwast to three institutions and credited him with the whole basis of his musical development. In 1905 he met Gustav Mahler while conducting the off-stage brass at a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Resurrection. He also made a piano reduction of the second symphony. The two men became friends, and Klemperer became conductor at the German Opera in Prague in 1907 on Mahler’s recommendation. Mahler wrote a short testimonial, recommending Klemperer, on a small card which Klemperer kept for the rest of his life. Later, in 1910, Klemperer assisted Mahler in the premiere of his Symphony No. 8, Symphony of a Thousand.