Rickenbacher, Karl Anton

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Rickenbacher, Karl Anton

Rickenbacher, Karl Anton , Swiss conductor; b. Basel, May 20, 1940. He received his training at the Berlin Städtisches Cons. (1962–66), his mentors in conducting being Karajan and Boulez. After serving as an asst. conductor at the Zürich Opera (1966–69), he was conductor of the Freiburg im Breisgau Opera (1969–74). From 1976 to 1985 he was Generalmusikdirektor of the Westhphalian Sym. Orch. in Recklinghausen. He also served as principal conductor of the BBC Scottish Sym. Orch. in Glasgow from 1977 to 1980. In 1983 he appeared for the first time as a guest conductor with the Berlin Phil, and at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. In 1987 he made his debuts as a guest conductor with the Royal Phil, and the Philharmonia Orch. in London. After making his first appearances in the U.S. during the 1987–88 season, he was a guest conductor with many European and North American orchs. His repertoire embraces the classical, romantic, and modern repertoires.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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