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Josef SittardGerman music critic and musicologist
Date of Birth: 04.06.1846
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Herman Sittard
Herman Sittard was a renowned German music critic and musicologist.Early Life and Education
Sittard was born in Stuttgart, Germany. He completed his studies at the Stuttgart Conservatory, where he later taught piano and voice from 1872 to 1885.
Musical Critic in Hamburg
In 1885, Sittard moved to Hamburg and became the music critic for a daily newspaper. He quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the city's musical scene.
Relationship with Tchaikovsky
Sittard was particularly interested in the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. He met with the composer during his visits to Hamburg and wrote extensively about him. Sittard praised Tchaikovsky's exceptional talent in orchestration and melodic development, as well as his amiable personality. However, he also expressed skepticism about Tchaikovsky's dramatic abilities in the realm of opera.
Critique of Mahler
Sittard was critical of Gustav Mahler, who served as a conductor in Hamburg. In a private letter, Sittard referred to Mahler as his "hellish judge" (Richter aus der Unterwelt).
Publications
In addition to his work as a critic, Sittard published several books on music history, including biographies of Felix Mendelssohn (1881) and Gioachino Rossini (1882).
