Wolfgang von Karajan

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Coat of arms of the von Karajan family, imperial nobility 1792.
Salzburg municipal cemetery , grave of Wolfgang von Karajan, his wife and parents

Wolfgang Ritter von Karajan (real name since 1919: Wolfgang Karajan ; born January 27, 1906 in Salzburg ; † November 2, 1987 there ) was an organist and ensemble leader from the von Karajan family . He was the older brother of Herbert von Karajan .

Wolfgang von Karajan trained as an organist and graduated from the Technical University in Vienna with a degree in electrical engineering. He then headed his own technical laboratory in Salzburg before founding the "Organ Ensemble Wolfgang von Karajan" with his wife Hedy and Hans Andreae in 1950, which performed with three positives .

The ensemble toured around the world and gave many concerts in which it also used portatives at times ; Karajan was also an organ builder. A particular highlight of their repertoire was Bach's The Art of Fugue , which his brother wanted to play with him at EMI ; but the project was rejected. The relationship between the two brothers was a little tense, as Herbert felt a deep dislike for his brother's wife, Hedy, and Wolfgang, unlike his brother, preferred a life of almost solitary seclusion. In his youth he was an enthusiastic motor sportsman who also took part in hillclimb races on his Douglas motorcycle.

literature

  • Rudolf Flotzinger (Ed.): Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon . Volume 2. Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 2003, ISBN 3-7001-3044-9 .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Karajan, Wolfgang von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Karajan, Wolfgang
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian organist and ensemble leader
DATE OF BIRTH January 27, 1906
PLACE OF BIRTH Salzburg
DATE OF DEATH November 2nd 1987
Place of death Salzburg