Richter, Karl

views updated

Richter, Karl

Richter, Karl , distinguished German organist, harpsichordist, and conductor; b. Plauen, Oct. 15, 1926; d. Munich, Feb. 15, 1981. He studied organ, harpsichord, and conducting at the Dresden Kreuzschule, then took courses at the Leipzig Cons. with Rudolf Mauersberger, Gunther Ramin, and Karl Straube. In 1946 he became choirmaster of the Christuskirche in Leipzig, and in 1947 he was named organist of Leipzig’s Thomaskirche. In 1951 he settled in Munich. He organized the Munich Bach Orch. and Choir, which brought him great acclaim, making many tours and numerous recordings with them; also appeared as a guest conductor in Europe. On April 18, 1965, he made his U.S. debut with them at N.Y.’s Carnegie Hall.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

More From encyclopedia.com