Rettich, Wilhelm

views updated

Rettich, Wilhelm

Rettich, Wilhelm , German-born Dutch composer and conductor; b. Leipzig, July 3, 1892; d. Sinzheim bei Baden-Baden, Dec. 27, 1988. He studied at the Leipzig Cons. with Reger. He was in the German army in World War I and was taken prisoner by the Russians; sent to Siberia, he made his way to China after the Russian Revolution and eventually returned to Leipzig. He occupied various posts as a theater conductor; was music director of the local synagogue until 1933, when the advent of the Nazi regime forced him to leave Germany; he went to the Netherlands and became a naturalized Dutch citizen. In 1964 he returned to Germany and lived in Baden-Baden. As a composer, he excelled in symphonic and chamber music; wrote 3 syms.; Violin Concerto; Piano Concerto; much chamber music for various combinations; choral works; piano pieces and songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire