Karl Richter (conductor) facts for kids

Karl Richter (born October 15, 1926 – died February 15, 1981) was a famous German musician. He was a talented conductor, which means he led musical groups. He was also a choirmaster, leading choirs, and played two instruments: the organ and the harpsichord.

Karl Richter's Early Life and Musical Training

Karl Richter was born in a town called Plauen. His father, Christian Johannes Richter, was a pastor. Karl loved music from a young age.

He started his music studies in Dresden. There, he was part of a famous choir called the Dresdner Kreuzchor. Later, he moved to Leipzig to continue his studies. He graduated in 1949, ready to start his professional music career.

Karl Richter's Music Career and Achievements

In 1949, right after he finished school, Karl Richter became the organist at St. Thomas Church, Leipzig. This church was very special because Johann Sebastian Bach, a super famous composer, had been the music director there for many years. Karl Richter even played for the opening of Bach's new grave.

In 1952, Karl Richter married Gladys Müller. They had two children, Tobias and Simone. That same year, he moved to Munich. In Munich, he taught organ at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. He also worked as a choirmaster and organist at St. Mark's Church.

Founding the Munich Bach Ensembles

In 1954, Karl Richter started two important music groups. First, he founded the Münchener Bach-Chor, which is the Munich Bach Choir. Soon after, he created the Münchener Bach-Orchester, the Munich Bach Orchestra.

These groups quickly became very well-known around the world. They were especially famous for playing the music of J. S. Bach. Karl Richter led both of these groups from 1954 until he passed away in 1981.

Tours and Space Travel for Bach's Music

During the 1960s and 1970s, Karl Richter and his ensembles traveled a lot. They toured many countries, including Japan, the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe.

In 1977, something amazing happened. A recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 played by the Munich Bach Orchestra and led by Richter was chosen by NASA. This recording was put on the Voyager Golden Record. This special gold record was sent into space on the Voyager spacecraft. It carried sounds and images from Earth to show what life and culture are like here.

Richter's Unique Musical Style

Karl Richter played and conducted many different types of music. He performed old works by composers like Heinrich Schütz and Max Reger. He also played symphonies from the Classical and Romantic periods. But he is most remembered for his amazing performances of music by Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.

Richter's performances were known for being very deep and powerful. He focused on making the woodwind instruments sound great. He also made sure all the instruments were balanced. His recordings from 1958 to 1970 are famous for their "discipline, rhythmic tightness, and strong feeling."

Richter believed that Baroque music, like Bach's, should feel fresh and new every time it's played. He once said that it's bad if you play a piece without new ideas. For him, each concert was a special event. Musicians who played with him said it was like playing ping-pong. The back-and-forth energy made each performance unique and perfect for that moment.

Besides conducting, Karl Richter was also a fantastic harpsichordist and organist. He toured America at least twice, playing solo concerts. His organ performances of Bach's music were known for their grand sound and steady pace.

Later Years and Passing

In 1971, Karl Richter had a heart attack. After that, he started having problems with his eyesight. He began to memorize as many musical pieces as he could. He wanted to be ready in case he lost his sight completely. Luckily, he had eye surgery, which helped his vision.

When people asked him why he worked so hard, he would say, "My time is now" and "We Richters don't grow old."

Karl Richter passed away in a hotel in Munich in 1981 from a heart attack. He was buried in a cemetery in Zürich eight days later.

Selected Musical Works and Recordings

Karl Richter focused mainly on German Baroque music, especially the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. But he also recorded a lot of other music. His recordings include works by composers like Scarlatti, Handel, Telemann, and even Bach's sons, C. P. E. Bach and Joh. Chr. Bach. He also recorded music by Haydn, Mozart, and Mendelssohn.

Famous Bach Recordings

Karl Richter was a true expert in Bach's music.

• In 1958, he recorded the complete St Matthew Passion. He led the Münchener Bach-Orchester and the Münchener Bach-Chor himself. He recorded this work again in 1979.
• In 1961, he recorded Bach's Mass in B minor, BWV 232 and the Magnificat, BWV 243.
• In 1963, he recorded the complete Musical Offering, BWV 1079.
• He also recorded parts of Bach's St John Passion and the Christmas Oratorio.

As an organist and harpsichordist, Richter made many recordings of Bach's works.

• In 1958, he recorded two Bach organ pieces at the Ottobeuren Abbey.
• He recorded several LPs of Bach's organ works between 1964 and 1978.
• In 1969, he recorded a selection of Bach's harpsichord works.

Handel Recordings

Karl Richter also recorded many works by George Frideric Handel.

• In 1952, he recorded Handel's Concerti grossi, op. 6 with the Bamberg Symphony.
• In 1959, he recorded Handel's organ concertos. He led the Karl Richter Chamber Orchestra while playing the organ himself.

Recordings of Other Composers

Richter didn't just record Bach and Handel.

• He recorded symphonies by C. P. E. Bach, Johann Christian Bach, and Mozart.
• In 1964, he recorded organ works by Mozart, Brahms, and Liszt.
• In 1971, he led the Munich Bach Orchestra and Choir in Beethoven's Mass in C major.

Richter's Legacy and Reissues

Karl Richter's recordings are still very popular today.

• In 2005, all of his Bach organ works were reissued in a 3-CD set.
• In 2020, a Baroque music expert praised Richter's 1958 recording of Bach's St Matthew Passion.
• Also in 2020, a huge collection of Richter's complete recordings was reissued. This set included 97 CDs and 3 Blu-Ray Audio discs! It featured many of his famous Bach recordings, including the Mass in B minor, St Matthew Passion, and Brandenburg Concertos. It also included works by C. P. E. Bach, Beethoven, Gluck, Handel, Telemann, Haydn, Scarlatti, Mozart, Brahms, Liszt, and Reger.

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See also

In Spanish: Karl Richter para niños