 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-09-26 01:27
I'm trying to learn more about Rudolf Kempe's biography.
From searching the internet, I've learned that he was a German conductor (orignally an oboist), much beloved in England too, who lived from 1910 to 1976. He seems to have been considered a Strauss specialist, though perhaps he resented that pigeonholing.
However, all the on-line biographical info I could find are silent about his activities between 1935 (when he coonducted in Dresden) and 1949 (when he conducted the Bavarian Staatsoper).
Does anyone know where he conducted during the period 1935-1949? Was he still active in Germany? Did he live in exile? Was he prevented from conducting?
Thanks.
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2005-09-26 05:45
Kempe was principal oboe in the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra originally. He made his conducting debut as an emergency replacement for a sick conductor. This was the Leipzig opera that he conducted in 1935. After Leipzig, he held positions in Chemnitz and Weimar. In 1949, he became music director of the Dresden Opera. In 1952 he became music director of the Munich Opera.
I highly recommend his complete Strauss orchestral works with Dresden Staatskapelle on EMI.
Post Edited (2005-09-26 05:52)
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2005-09-26 15:59
https://secure.coconuts.com/namepage.aspx?pid=Q33013&type=C&loc=41179
Says that his conducting debut was in 1936, not 1935, contradicting other sources.
More usefully, and plausibly, it says that he was hired as a repetiteur, then served in the German army during the war, working as a musician from 1942.
The suggestion is that he, like most Germans, trod that narrow path between being unpatriotic and supporting the Nazis.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-09-26 16:11
Thanks, David.
That fills in some of the info gap. Herr Kempe must have been either very lucky or well connected to have served in the Wehrmacht out of the line of fire.
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Author: kenb
Date: 2005-09-26 21:33
"Among the rising generation [of conductors], Rudolf Kempe left his orchestra and joined the army rather than obey a Nazi order to dismiss his best violist."
-from 'The Maestro Myth' by Norman Lebrecht, p103.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2005-09-27 03:14
Kempe was really something ealse...his excellence in a varied repetoire of the Germanic school of conducting was on par with any of the famed historic conductors...
I feel his Richard Strauss in Dresden is to my mind among the very finest...certainly on par with Szell and Maazel and easily in the league of Karajan. As to his Beethoven it was very finely etched and with very relaxed tempos Kempe in Beethoven was super...
I think it a shame he was not heard often on this side of the Atlantic.
David Dow
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Author: rbell96
Date: 2005-09-27 17:39
D Dow wrote:
> Kempe was really something ealse...his excellence in a varied
> repetoire of the Germanic school of conducting was on par with
> any of the famed historic conductors...
>
> I feel his Richard Strauss in Dresden is to my mind among the
> very finest...certainly on par with Szell and Maazel and easily
> in the league of Karajan. As to his Beethoven it was very
> finely etched and with very relaxed tempos Kempe in Beethoven
> was super...
>
I was going to mention Richard Strauss and Kempe's recording of the orchestral works. I love them, its one of my favourite cd sets in my collection. Ein Heldenleben is wonderfully performed, magnificently realised and full of wonderful colour and character. His Strauss recordings just seem so alive. There great.
Rob
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-09-29 01:00
I second (third?) David and Rob ... nothing beats Kempe and the Dresdners playing Strauss.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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