Esser, Heinrich

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Esser, Heinrich

Esser, Heinrich, German conductor and composer; b. Mannheim, July 15, 1818; d. Salzburg, June 3, 1872. He was a student of Jakob Heinefetter (violin), Carl Eschborn (harmony), and Lachner in Mannheim, continuing his training with the latter in Munich. He completed his studies with Sechter in Vienna (1839–40). After serving as Konzertmeister of the Mannheim National Theater (1838–41), he went to Mainz as conductor of the Liedertafel (1841) and as Kapellmeister of the city (1845). He then was conductor of the Vienna Court Opera (1847–69). (Mannheim, Dec. 26, 1840); Thomas Riquiqui oder Die politische Heirath (Frankfurt am Main, March 8, 1843); Die zwei Prinzen (Munich, April 10, 1845). OTHER: 5 syms.; 2 orch. suites; String Quartet; many vocal pieces.

Bibliography

M. Wöss, H. £.:Eine Darstellung seines Lebens und Wirkens als Dirigent unter besonderer Berücksichtigungseiner Beziehung zu Richard Wagner (diss., Univ. of Vienna, 1947); K. J. Müller, H. E. als Komponist (diss., Univ. of Mainz, 1969).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire