Darmstadt

Darmstadt , city (1994 pop. 139,750), Hesse, central Germany. It is a commercial, industrial, and transportation center; its manufactures include chemicals, machinery, and pharmaceuticals. Darmstadt was first mentioned in the 11th cent. and was chartered in 1330. It passed to the landgraves of Hesse in 1479. The city was severely damaged during World War II. It is the site of a technical university and the seat of the Institute for Heavy Ion Research, the European Space Operations Center, and the European Organization for Weather Satellites.

Darmstadt City in Hesse state, w central Germany. The old town dates from the Middle Ages. The city was severely damaged during World War II. It is a cultural centre, with a notable international music school. Industries: chemicals, aerospace engineering, steel. Pop. (1999) 137,600.

Darmstadt. City in Ger. with musical tradition dating from 17th cent. Operatic activity was especially vital under Grand Duke Ludwig I (1790–1830), when the court conductor was Vogler. Later Rinck was organist for 41 years. Among 20th-cent. opera conds. at Darmstadt have been Weingartner, Balling, Böhm, E. Kleiber, Schmidt-Isserstedt, and Szell. But the most significant development has been the city's association with avant-garde contemporary mus. The International Summer Courses for New Music were instituted in 1946 by Wolfgang Steinecke, who directed them until his death in 1961. The courses were held annually up to 1970, and now every two years.