Andreae, Volkmar

Andreae, Volkmar, distinguished Swiss conductor, pedagogue, and composer, grandfather of Marc (Edouard) Andreae; b. Bern, July 5, 1879; d. Zürich, June 18, 1962. He studied with Munzinger in Bern and with Wüllner at the Cologne Cons. (1897–1900). After serving as répétiteur at the Munich Court Opera (1900–02), he settled in Zürich and was conductor of its mixed chorus (1902–49) and men’s chorus (1904–19); was chief conductor of the Tonhalle Orch. (1906–49) and director of the Zürich Cons. (1914–41). He championed the works of Bruckner, Strauss, Reger, Mahler, and Debussy. In his own compositions, he reflected post-Romantic tendencies.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Ratcliff (Duisburg, May 25, 1914); Abenteuer des Casanova (Dresden, June 17, 1924). ORCH.: 2 syms. (n.d.; Zürich, Nov. 3, 1919); Rhapsody for Violin and Orch. (1920); Musik (Zürich, Nov. 12, 1929); Violin Concerto (1940); Oboe Concertino (1942). CHAMBER: 2 piano trios (1901, 1908); Violin Sonata (1903); 2 string quartets (1905, 1922); String Trio (1919); Divertimento for Flute and String Trio (1945); piano pieces. VOCAL: Various works for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch., choruses, and songs.

Bibliography

F. Seiler, Dr. V. A....zum Jubilăum seiner 25- jăhrigen Tatigkeit (Zürich, 1931); M. Engeler and E. Lichtenhahn, eds., Briefe an V. A.: Ein halbes Jahrhundert Züricher Musikleben, 1902-1959 (Zurich, 1986).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire