Abert, Johann Joseph

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Abert, Johann Joseph

Abert, Johann Joseph, German conductor and composer, father of Hermann Abert; b. Kochowitz, Sept. 20, 1832; d. Stuttgart, April 1, 1915. He studied double bass and composition at the Prague Cons. (1846–53). In 1853 he settled in Stuttgart as a double bass player in the Court Orch., where he subsequently served as its conductor from 1857 to 1888. Abert became best known as a composer of operas, his most successful being Astorga (Stuttgart, May 20, 1866). Others were Anna von Landscron (Stuttgart, Dec. 19, 1858), König Enzio (Stuttgart, May 4, 1862; rev. as Enzio von Hohen-staufen, Stuttgart, April 11, 1875), Ekkehard (Berlin, Oct. 11, 1878), and Die Almohaden (Leipzig, April 13, 1890). Among his other works were syms., including the programmatic Columbus (Stuttgart, Jan. 26, 1864), overtures, chamber music, and sacred and secular vocal scores.

Bibliography

H. Abert, J. J. A., 1832-1915: Sein Leben und seine Werke (Leipzig, 1916).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire