Schuricht, Carl

Schuricht, Carl, distinguished German conductor; b. Danzig, July 3, 1880; d. Corseaux-sur-Vevey, Switzerland, Jan. 7, 1967. He studied at home, his father being an organ manufacturer and his mother a pianist. He then took lessons with Humperdinck at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, and later in Leipzig with Reger. He began his career conducting in various provincial theaters. In 1911 he became music director in Wiesbaden, and in 1942 principal guest conductor of the Dresden Phil. He made numerous guest conducting appearances in various European music centers, and also conducted in the U.S. for the first time in 1927. After falling out of favor with the Nazis in 1944, he fled to Switzerland, which remained his home until his death. In 1946 he reopened the Salzburg Festival; continued to conduct there and in France. In 1956 he took the Vienna Phil, on its first U.S. tour, sharing his duties with André Cluytens. In 1957 he conducted at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Sym. Orch. and at the Tanglewood Festival with the Boston Sym. Orch.; in subsequent years, he regularly conducted the Berlin and Vienna Phils.; also was a frequent guest conductor of the Stuttgart Radio Sym. Orch. He also composed, wrote orch. music, piano pieces, and songs. As a conductor, Schuricht was one of the last representatives of the Austro-German tradition. After concentrating on contemporary music in his early years, he turned to the great masterworks of the Austro-German repertory, his interpretations being noted for their freedom and beauty of expression.

Bibliography

B. Gavoty, C. S. (Geneva, 1955).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire