Rieger, Fritz

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Rieger, Fritz

Rieger, Fritz , German conductor; b. Oberaltstadt, June 28, 1910; d. Bonn, Sept. 29, 1978. He was educated at the Prague Academy of Music, taking courses in piano with Langer, composition with Finke, and conducting with Szell. He conducted at the German Opera Theater in Prague (1931–38), the Bremen Opera (1939–41), and the Mannheim National Theater (1947–49). From 1949 to 1966 he was Generalmusikdirektor of the Munich Phil.; also conducted at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. In 1972–73 he was chief conductor of the Melbourne Sym. Orch.; he also gave guest performances in Japan. In his programs, he gave considerable prominence to modern music.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire