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Walter GoehrGerman-British conductor and composer
Date of Birth: 28.05.0193
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- German-Born Conductor and Composer
- Career in Germany and the UK
- Recordings and Collaborations
- Notable Students and Legacy
German-Born Conductor and Composer
Early Life and EducationWalter Götze, a German-born conductor and composer of Jewish descent, was born in Leipzig. His father was the composer Alexander Götze. Walter studied music under Ernst Křenek, and later under Arnold Schoenberg from 1925 to 1928.
Career in Germany and the UK
In 1925, Götze began working as a conductor for the Berlin Radio. However, in 1932, amid increasing persecution of Jewish musicians in Germany, he resigned and emigrated to the United Kingdom. He became the musical director of the Gramophone Company (later EMI).
From 1945 to 1948, Götze led one of the BBC orchestras. He had a particular affinity for contemporary music, championing works by Benjamin Britten and Michael Tippett. Notably, he conducted the premiere of Tippett's oratorio "A Child of Our Time."
Recordings and Collaborations
In 1936, Götze conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the first recording of Georges Bizet's Symphony in C. He also accompanied Noel Mewton-Wood in numerous recordings with various orchestras.
Notable Students and Legacy
Angela Morley was among Götze's students. He died in 1958 in Sheffield Town Hall after conducting Handel's oratorio "Messiah."
Götze's compositions include the successful radio opera "Malpopota," as well as symphonic and chamber works. He also created arrangements (such as Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" for piano and orchestra) and edited works like Monteverdi's "L'incoronazione di Poppea."
