Richter, Hans (Johann) (Baptist Isidor)

Richter, Hans [Johann] (Baptist Isidor) (b Raab (now Györ), Hung., 1843; d Bayreuth, 1916). Austro-Hung. conductor. Choirboy in Vienna Court Chapel. Hn.-player, Kärntnerthor Th., Vienna, 1862–6. Worked with Wagner at Tribschen, 1866–7, making fair copy of score of Die Meistersinger. Recommended by Wagner to Bülow as chorusmaster, Munich Opera, 1868–9. Cond. Brussels première of Lohengrin, 1870. Cond., Budapest Opera 1871–5, 1st Kapellmeister Vienna Opera 1875–1900. Imperial Court Cond. 1893–1900. Cond. Vienna PO 1875–82, 1883–98; and dir., Musikfreunde Gesellschaft 1884–90. Chosen by Wagner to conduct first complete Ring, Bayreuth 1876. Went to London as co-cond. with Wagner 1877, thereafter giving annual series of Richter Concerts in London 1879–1902. London opera début, Drury Lane 1882 (f.ps. in England of Tristan and Meistersinger), CG (Theatre Royal) 1884 and 1903–10 (cond. first Ring sung in English, 1908). Permanent cond. Hallé Orch., Manchester, 1899–1911. Prin. cond. LSO, 1904–11. Cond. Birmingham Fest. 1885–1909 (incl. f.p. of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius 1900). Champion of Elgar, also cond. f.ps. of Enigma Variations (1899) and 1st Sym. (1908, ded. to him). Cond. f.p. of Brahms's 2nd and 3rd Syms. and Bruckner's 8th. Retired 1912, last appearance as cond. of Meistersinger at Bayreuth. Championed several Eng. composers besides Elgar and during his Hallé years introduced mus. of Bartók and Sibelius. Organized and rehearsed private orch. for f.p. of Wagner's Siegfried Idyll on staircase at Tribschen, 1870, playing tpt. (not hn., as often stated).