Graf, Hans
Graf, Hans
Graf, Hans, Austrian conductor; b. Linz, Feb. 15, 1949. He studied piano at the Bruckner Cons, in Linz (1957-59) and later took diplomas in piano and conducting at the Graz Hochschule für Musik (1971). He also pursued training in conducting with Ferrara in Siena (1970,1971) and Hilversum (1972), Celibidache in Bologna (1972), and Yansons in Weimar (1972) and Lenin-grad (1972-73). In 1975-76 he was music director of the Iraqi National Sym. Orch. in Baghdad. In 1979 he won 1st prize in the Karl Bohm conducting competition in Salzburg. He subsequently made appearances as a guest conductor with the Vienna Sym. Orch. (from 1980), the Vienna State Opera (from 1981), and at the Salzburg Festival (from 1983). From 1984 to 1994 he was music director of the Mozarteum Orch. and the Landes theater in Salzburg. In 1985 he made his first tour of the U.S. and Japan with the Mozarteum Orch. In 1987 he made his British debut as a guest conductor with the Royal Liverpool Phil. In 1995 he became principal conductor of the Calgary (Alberta) Phil. He concurrently served as music director of the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine from 1998. As a guest conductor, he has appeared with major orchs. in Europe, North America, and the Far East, and at various festivals. He has also conducted opera in Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Paris, and other major cities.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire