Karl August Leopold Böhm (28 August 1894 – 14 August 1981) was an Austrian conductor. He was best known for his performances of the music of Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, and Richard Strauss.

Life and career

Education

Karl Böhm was born in Graz, Styria, Austria. The son of a lawyer, he studied law and earned a doctorate in this subject before entering the music conservatory in his home town of Graz. In 1927, Böhm was appointed as chief musical director in Darmstadt. In 1931, he was appointed to the same post at the Hamburg State Opera, a position he held until 1934. but Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians praises Böhm's Bayreuth performances for "finely display[ing] his qualities". The Times took a middle view, finding his Wagner "light and positive" but "somewhat reluctant to let the drama find its full weight and depth". Several recordings were made with the orchestra for Deutsche Grammophon. Böhm was given the title of LSO President, which he held until his death. He twice conducted at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in the 1970s: Le nozze di Figaro in 1977 and Così fan tutte in 1979.

Death, family, legacy

Böhm died in Salzburg, at age 86. Grove says of him:

Recordings

Böhm recorded extensively for Deutsche Grammophon, but also made recordings with Decca and EMI. He is primarily known for his recordings of Mozart. He recorded with the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic and Staatskapelle Dresden. His recordings of the complete Mozart symphonies were one of the first to be commercially released. Some of his most famous recordings include those of operas, such as Mozart's Cosi fan tutte with EMI and Wagner's Tristan und Isolde with DG.

Notable recordings

  • Beethoven, Complete Symphonies and Overtures with the Vienna Philharmonic
  • Beethoven, Piano Concertos No. 3 and 4 with Maurizio Pollini and Vienna Philharmonic (DG)
  • Bruckner, Symphony No. 4 with the Vienna Philharmonic, 1973 (Decca-Legends)
  • Haydn, The Seasons with Gundula Janowitz, Peter Schreier, Martti Talvela, Vienna Singverein and Vienna Philharmonic (DG)
  • Mozart, Complete Symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic
  • Mozart, Clarinet Concerto, Flute Concerto No. 1, Bassoon Concerto with the Vienna Philharmonic (DG)
  • Mozart, Cosi Fan Tutte with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Christa Ludwig, Giuseppe Taddei, Walter Berry and the Philharmonia Orchestra and Choir, 1963 (EMI, Great Recordings of the Century)
  • Mozart, Le Nozze di Figaro, recorded with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Edith Mathis, Gundula Janowitz, Hermann Prey, Tatiana Troyanos, the Ocherstra and Choir of Deutsche Oper Berlin (DG-The Originals)
  • Mozart, The Magic Flute, recorded with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Fritz Wunderlich, Evelyn Lear, Roberta Peters, the Berlin Philharmonic, 1964 (DG-The Originals)
  • Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 27 Concerto for Two Pianos K365, with Emil and Elena Gilels and Vienna Philharmonic (DG-The Originals)
  • Mozart, Requiem with Edith Mathis, Karl Ridderbusch, the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera Choir (DG)
  • Strauss, Eine Alpensinfonie / Till Eulenspiegel with the Staatskapelle Dresden, 1959, (DG -The Originals)
  • Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier, Marianne Schech, Irmgard Seefried, Rita Streich, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Kurt Böhme, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, 1958 (DG)
  • Wagner, Tristan und Isolde with Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Christa Ludwig, Eberhard Wächter, Martti Talvela and Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Chours, 1966 (DG -The Originals)

Honours and awards

thumb|Böhm's star on the Vienna Walk of Fame

Böhm's awards include: 1943: War Merit Cross, 2nd class without swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter); 1959: Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria; 1960: Grand Merit Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany (Großes Verdienstkreuz); 1964: Honorary Ring of Vienna; 1967: Berlin Art Prize; 1970: Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art; 1976: Commander of the Legion of Honour; Honorary Ring of Styria; and 2012: Gramophone Magazine Hall of Fame.

See also

  • List of Austrians in music

Notes and references

Notes

References

Further reading

  • Böhm, Karl (1992). A Life Remembered: Memoirs. Translated by John Kehoe. London: Marion Boyars, 1992.
  • Endler, Franz (1981). Karl Böhm: ein Dirigentenleben. Hamburg: Hoffmann und Campe. Foreword by Leonard Bernstein. .
  • Rehearsing Don Giovanni