Richter, Nico (Max)

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Richter, Nico (Max)

Richter, Nico (Max) , Dutch composer; b. Amsterdam, Dec. 2, 1915; d. there, Aug. 16, 1945. He studied conducting with Scherchen, and directed a student orch. In Feb. 1942 he was arrested by the Nazis as a member of the Dutch Resistance, and spent 3 years in the Dachau concentration camp, which fatally undermined his health; he died shortly after liberation.

Works

DRAMATIC: Amorijs, chamber opera (1937); Kannitverstan, ballet. ORCH. : Serenade, sinfonietta for Flute, Oboe, Guitar, and Strings (1931–34); Sinfonia-Divertimento for Chamber Orch. (1936). CHAMBER : Concertino for Clarinet, Horn, Trumpet, Piano, and 2 Violins (1935); Trio for Flute, Viola, and Guitar (1935); Serenade for Flute, Violin, and Viola (1945; 2 extant movements reconstructed by Lex van Delden).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire