Adalbert Wirkhaus
Adalbert Wirkhaus (born May 17, 1880 in the village of Väägvere , Sootaga parish, today Tartu , † December 19, 1961 in Fort Lauderdale , Florida , United States ) was an Estonian composer and conductor .
life and work
Adalbert August Wirkhaus was born as the son of the conductor David Otto Wirkhaus (1837–1912). Among other things, the father was director of the Estonian Song Festival .
Adalbert Wirkhaus studied conducting with Arthur Nikisch and composition with Max Reger at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Leipzig . In 1908 he graduated from Leipzig .
After a brief employment as second conductor at the German Summer Theater in Tartu , Wirkhaus moved to Tallinn . From autumn 1908 to 1912 he was chief conductor and musical director at the Estonia Concert and Opera House . There he conducted the first operas and operettas , and on November 14, 1908, the first opera performed there, The Night Camp in Granada by Conradin Kreutzer . On April 1, 1911, ' Jaaniöö ' operetta , the first ever Estonian operetta, was premiered in Estonia Wirkhaus .
From 1912 to 1917 Adalbert Wirkhaus was the conductor of the Säde Music Association in Valga . From 1918 to 1943 he taught music in Tartu , including at the renowned Hugo-Treffner-Gymnasium . In 1919 he founded the Tartu Music School ( Tartu Muusikakool ) together with August Nieländer (1887–1986 ).
In 1944 Adalbert Wirkhaus fled to Germany from the approaching Red Army . He lived in the USA from 1949 until his death . There he was mainly active as an organist , composer and choir director.
Private life
His son is the composer and conductor Taavo Virkhaus (* 1934).
Compositions (selection)
- Three character pieces (for symphony orchestra , 1908)
- Jaaniöö (operetta based on a libretto by Paul Pinna , 1911)
- Estonian Suite I (for symphony orchestra, 1918)
- Veskineiu (operetta based on a libretto by Agnes Taar , 1932)
- Kevadtormid (operetta based on a libretto by Friida Wirkhaus , 1934)
- Estonian Suite I (for symphony orchestra, 1938)
- Aastaajad (for male choir, text by Henrik Visnapuu , 1951)
- Kõnelused Issandaga (for mixed choir, baritone and piano; text by Henrik Visnapuu , 1951)
- Christmas Cantata (for mixed choir, soloists and organ , 1954)
- Resurrection cantata (for mixed choir, soloists and organ, 1955)
Web links
- CV (Estonian)
- Opus
- Works by Adalbert Wirkhaus
Individual evidence
- ^ Estonian National Opera - History in the highlights. In: “ESTONIA” - 100/11 CDs of archive recordings since 1930ties with the soloists of Estonian National Opera. Estonian Record Productions (ERP), 2006, accessed February 2, 2014 .
- ^ Estonian National Opera. Retrieved January 3, 2014 (St. John's Night).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Wirkhaus, Adalbert |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Virkhaus, Adalbert |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Estonian composer and conductor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 17, 1880 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Väägvere village , Sootaga municipality , now Tartu rural municipality |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 19, 1961 |
| Place of death | Fort Lauderdale , Florida , United States |