Klemperer, Otto

Klemperer, Otto (b Breslau, 1885; d Zurich, 1973). Ger.-born conductor and composer (Israeli cit. 1970). Cond. Reinhardt's prod. of Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, Berlin 1906. Later encouraged by Mahler, whom he assisted with rehearsals of 8th Sym., Munich 1910. Cond. of opera Ger. Nat. Th., Prague, 1907–10, Hamburg 1910–12, Bremen 1913, Strasbourg 1914–17, Cologne 1917–24, Wiesbaden 1924–7, Berlin 1927–33 (first at Kroll Opera [until 1931], then State Opera). Cond. Bruckner's 8th sym. at his Salzburg Fest. début 1933, opera 1947 (Le nozze di Figaro). Cond. Los Angeles PO 1933–9. Seriously ill 1939, remaining partially paralysed. Budapest Opera 1947–50; Montreal SO 1950–3. Began assoc. with Philharmonia Orch., London, 1947, becoming prin. cond. 1959 and cond. for life in 1964. Cond. series of famous Beethoven concerts. Cond. and prod. Fidelio at CG 1961, Die Zauberflöte 1962, and Lohengrin 1963. Retired 1972. Comp. 6 syms., opera Das Ziel (1915, rev. 1970), 9 str. qts., and 100 songs.