Haenchen, Hartmut
Haenchen, Hartmut
Haenchen, Hartmut, German conductor;b. Dresden, March 21, 1943. He was a student of Matschke, Neuhaus, and Förster at the Dresden Hochschule für Musik (1960–66), and of Koch and Höft in Berlin. In 1971 he won 1st prize in the Carl Maria von Weber competition in Dresden. After serving as director of the Robert-Franz-Singakadamie and the Halle orch. (1966–72), he was chief conductor of the Zwickau Theater (1972–73). From 1973 to 1976 he was permanent conductor of the Dresden Phil., and, from 1974 to 1976, of the Phil. Choir of Dresden. He then was chief conductor of the Mecklenburg State Theater (1976–79). He was a prof, of conducting at the Dresden Hochschule für Musik (1980–86), and also music director of the CPE. Bach Chamber Orch. in Berlin (from 1980). In 1986 he became music director of the Netherlands Opera in Amsterdam. Haenchen has appeared as a guest conductor with major opera houses throughout Europe, North America, and Japan.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire