Günter Wand

Günter Wand is a Leader and German type-setter born the January 7th 1912 with Elberfeld and dead the February 14th 2002 with Ulmiz (close to Bern).

Biography

He studies with Wuppertal, Allenstein and Detmold. He studies the composition with Philipp Jarnach and the piano with Paul Baumgartner but is largely autodidact as a leader. He begins his career with Cologne where he directs operas during ten years.

Between 1947 and 1974, it directs the Orchestre of Gürzenich of Cologne (Gürzenich-Orchester Köln). As from 1948, he becomes also professor of music in Cologne.

As of the beginning of the year 1950, it starts to direct various formations, making its beginnings with London with the Symphony orchestra of London in 1951. In 1974, it leaves Cologne to direct the Symphony orchestra of the NDR. In 1982, Wand becomes invited chief of the Symphony orchestra of the BBC.

Wand also composed, mainly of the songs with orchestral accompaniment and the ballet music.

Repertory

Its repertory extends from the classical music (Joseph Haydn, Beethoven and especially Franz Schubert) to the late romanticism (Brahms, Anton Bruckner, etc) until the Modern music. Even if there exist many recordings carried out in studio, it always preferred the sound recordings on the sharp one, during concerts.

It also defended the contemporary repertory, with type-setters like Bernd Alois Zimmermann, Olivier Messiaen, Frank Martin, György Ligeti and Edgard Varèse.

External bonds

Site devoted to Günter Wand

Random links: