Förster, Josef (Bohuslav)

Förster, Josef (Bohuslav) (b Dětenice, 1859; d Novy Vesteč, 1951). Cz. composer, organist, and critic. Org. St Vojtěch, Prague, 1882–8. Prof. of pf., Hamburg Cons. from 1901 and critic for several Hamburg papers 1893–1903, during which period he was perceptive champion and friend of Mahler. Prof. of comp. at New Vienna Cons. 1903–18 and critic of Die Zeit 1910–18. Prof. of comp., Prague Cons. 1918–22, dir. 1922–31. Works incl. 6 operas, 5 syms., 6 suites, 2 vn. concs., vc. conc., 4 sym.-poems, chamber mus., and songs. His wife was the sop. Berta Foerstrová-Lauterová (b Prague, 1869; d Prague, 1936), who sang at the Nat. Th., Prague, 1887; Hamburg Opera 1893–1901; Vienna 1901–13, retiring 1914.