George Alexander Albrecht

Albrecht was born in the Leuchtenburg part of Osterholz, Hanover, Germany,{{cite web | title=Dirigent George Alexander Albrecht ist tot | website=NDR.de | date=22 December 2021 | url=https://www.ndr.de/kultur/musik/Dirigent-George-Alexander-Albrecht-ist-tot,georgealexanderalbrecht102.html | language=de | access-date=22 December 2021}} the son of psychologist, psychotherapist and physician Carl Albrecht.{{cite web | title=Ernst Albrecht | website=Munzinger Biographie | url=https://www.munzinger.de/search/portrait/Ernst+Albrecht/0/14489.html | language=de | access-date=22 December 2021}} He was a member of the Albrecht family: His brother Ernst Albrecht (1930–2014) was a politician, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was his niece. He was a choirboy at the Church of Our Lady, Bremen.{{cite web | title="Requiem für Syrien" als Oratorium der Hoffnung im Bremer Dom | website=evangelisch.de | url=https://www.evangelisch.de/inhalte/165750/09-02-2020/requiem-fuer-syrien-als-oratorium-der-hoffnung-im-bremer-dom | language=de | access-date=22 December 2021}}

At age 11, in October 1946, Albrecht wrote his first composition and later studied piano with Rudolf Hindemith.{{cite news | last=Schalz-Laurenze | first=Ute | title=Klavierkonzert eines Radaubruders | newspaper=Die Tageszeitung: Taz | date=17 February 2001 | page=27 | url=https://taz.de/!1187259/ | access-date=22 December 2021}} In 1949, he conducted his first concert. Albrecht studied violin, piano, and composition with Paul van Kempen in Siena and Hilversum,{{cite web | title=Albrecht, George Alexander | website=Encyclopedia.com | date=15 February 1935 | url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/albrecht-george-alexander | access-date=23 December 2021}}{{cite web | last=Schoen | first=Gerhard | title=Albrecht, George Alexander (1935– ), Dirigent – BMLO | website=Bayerisches Musiker-Lexikon Online | date=8 April 2012 | url=https://bmlo.de/a0155 | language=de | access-date=23 December 2021}} and in 1954 he received the Prix d'excellence of the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena.{{cite web | title=Ensemble-Detail, George Alexander Albrecht | website=Deutsches Nationaltheater und Staatskapelle Weimar | url=https://www.nationaltheater-weimar.de/de/ueber-uns/ensemble-detail.php?PID=149 | language=de | access-date=22 December 2021}} At the age of 24, he became a répétiteur at the Theater Bremen (1958–1961). In 1958, Rudolf Hindemith's opera Des Kaisers neue Kleider after Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes" was premiered in Bremen. From 1961 to 1965, he was first conductor at the Landestheater Hannover, with the Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover.{{cite book | last1=Mlynek | first1=K. | last2=Röhrbein | first2=W.R. | title=Hannover Chronik: von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart : Zahlen, Daten, Fakten | publisher=Schlütersche Verlagsanstalt | year=1991 | isbn=978-3-87706-319-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5mjlc_rBS3kC&pg=PA251 | language=de | access-date=23 December 2021 | page=251}}

File:Opernhaus Hannover in November.jpg]]

In 1965, Albrecht became Generalmusikdirektor (GMD) of the Staatsoper Hannover, at age 29 then the youngest GMD in Germany. He focused on the symphonies of Gustav Mahler{{sfn|Albrecht|1992}} and Anton Bruckner. He programmed all major operas by Mozart and stageworks by Wagner. Albrecht performed Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen staged by intendant Hans-Peter Lehmann with sets and costumes by Ekkehard Grübler. In 1983, he revived Marschner's Hans Heiling;{{cite web | title=Hannovers Theatergeschichte | website=Staatstheater Hannover | url=https://staatstheater-hannover.de/de_DE/theatergeschichte | language=de | access-date=23 December 2021}}{{cite web | last = Höflich | first = Jürgen | title = Marschner, Heinrich / Hans Heiling | website=repertoire-explorer.musikmph.de | date = 2021 | url=https://repertoire-explorer.musikmph.de/de/produkt/marschner-heinrich | access-date = 23 December 2021}} an opera whose composer had also been conductor at the Hannover opera. Albrecht then conducted some of the more infrequently presented operas, like Janáček's Jenufa, Handel's Jephta and Hercules, Wolf-Ferrari's Sly and Alban Berg's Lulu. He introduced contemporary composers, conducting Aribert Reimann's Troades in 1987,{{cite web | title=Troades | publisher=Schott Music | date=10 July 1986 | url=https://en.schott-music.com/shop/troades-no155103.html | access-date=23 December 2021}} and Bernd Alois Zimmermann's Die Soldaten in 1989.{{cite web | title=Die Soldaten | website=Schott Music | url=https://en.schott-music.com/shop/die-soldaten-no157075.html | language=de | access-date=23 December 2021}} He conducted a production of Schoenberg's Moses und Aron, staged by George Tabori, for both Hannover and Oper Leipzig. He worked together with an ensemble of singers including Isoldé Elchlepp, Renate Behle and Waltraud Meier. Albrecht concluded his tenure in Hannover with the 1992/93 season.

Albrecht was guest conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic and Munich Philharmonic, the Bamberg Symphony and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. He made further guest appearances in New York, St. Petersburg, Tokyo and Barcelona.{{cite web | title=George Alexander Albrecht – Autorenverzeichnis | website=Verlag Theater der Zeit | url=https://www.theaterderzeit.de/person/george_alexander_albrecht/ | language=de | access-date=23 December 2021}} He conducted Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer at the Vienna State Opera in 1985, and returned for other stage works by Wagner.{{cite web | title=Vorstellungen mit George Alexander Albrecht | website=Spielplanarchiv der Wiener Staatsoper | url=https://archiv.wiener-staatsoper.at/search/person/3248?person_ids=3248 | language=de | access-date=23 December 2021}} From 1990 to 1995, Albrecht was a regular guest conductor of the Semperoper in Dresden, where his work included conducting the Tabori production of Moses und Aron in 1994. As the 24th successor of Kapellmeister Johann Sebastian Bach, he served as GMD of the Deutsches Nationaltheater und Staatskapelle Weimar from 1996 to 2002.{{cite web | title=Trauer um Ehrendirigenten George Alexander Albrecht – neue musikzeitung | website=nmz | date=22 December 2021 | url=https://www.nmz.de/kiz/nachrichten/trauer-um-ehrendirigenten-george-alexander-albrecht | language=de | access-date=22 December 2021}} On 1 January 2002, he had a cardiac arrest on stage at New Year's Concert conducting Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Following 2002, he was honorary conductor and returned to composing.

Albrecht championed the music of Wilhelm Furtwängler, Hans Pfitzner,{{sfn|Albrecht|1987}} and Erwin Schulhoff among others.{{cite web | title=George Alexander Albrecht: "Mein ganzer innerer Weg führt zu Mahler" | website=Online Merker | url=https://onlinemerker.com/george-alexander-albrecht-mein-ganzer-innerer-weg-fuehrt-zu-mahler/ | language=de | ref={{sfnref | Online Merker}} | access-date=22 December 2021}} He taught at the Musikhochschule Hannover and Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt, Weimar.{{cite book | last1=Schacht | first1=U. | last2=Seidel | first2=T.A. | title=Tod, wo ist dein Stachel?: Todesfurcht und Lebenslust im Christentum | publisher=Evangelische Verlagsanstalt | series=Geogiana / Neue theologische Perspektiven | year=2017 | isbn=978-3-374-05004-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oTEjEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA259 | language=de | access-date=24 December 2021 | page=259}}{{cite web |first=Christina |last=Wittig-Tausch | title=Mein Umfall | website=Sächsische.de | date=21 November 2011 | url=https://www.saechsische.de/plus/mein-umfall-954962.html | language=de | access-date=22 December 2021}}

Albrecht married twice and became a father five times. The conductor Marc Albrecht is his son from his marriage to Corinne, a ballet dancer who became a physiotherapist.{{cite web | title=Marc Albrecht German conductor born 1964 | website=Operalogg | date=17 April 2021 | url=https://www.operalogg.com/marc-albrecht-german-conductor-born-1964/ | access-date=23 December 2021}} He was later married to pianist Liese Klahn, daughter of {{ill|Erich Klahn|de}}.{{cite web | title=Vorwürfe gegen Erich Klahn | website=Deutschlandfunk Kultur | date=29 June 2014 | url=https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/vorwuerfe-gegen-erich-klahn-das-ist-eine-bodenlose-heuchelei-100.html | language=de | access-date=23 December 2021}} Albrecht became involved in hospice work and was a devout Catholic. In spring 2021, he and his wife moved from Weimar to Southern Germany.

He died on 21 December 2021, at the age of 86.{{cite news |title=Trauer in Weimar: Ehrendirigent George Alexander Albrecht ist tot |url=https://www.mdr.de/kultur/musik/weimar-george-alexander-albrecht-tot-100.html |access-date=22 December 2021 |publisher=MDR |date=22 December 2021}}{{cite news |first=Christiane |last=Wiesenfeldt | title=George Alexander Albrecht: Furtwänglers Sachwalter | newspaper=FAZ | date=23 December 2021 | url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/buehne-und-konzert/zum-tod-des-dirigenten-george-alexander-albrecht-17699176.html | language=de | access-date=23 December 2021}}{{cite web | last=Hirsch | first=Wolfgang | title=Abschied von George Alexander Albrecht – langjähriger Generalmusikdirektor des DNT verstorben – Kultur | website=Ostthüringer Zeitung | date=22 December 2021 | url=https://www.otz.de/kultur/abschied-von-george-alexander-albrecht-langjaehriger-generalmusikdirektor-des-dnt-verstorben-id234155235.html | access-date=22 December 2021}} {{subscription required}}{{cite web | title=Kondolation | website=Staatstheater Hannover | url=https://staatstheater-hannover.de/de_DE/george-alexander-albrecht | language=de | access-date=24 December 2021}}

• 1985 Gustav Mahler Gold Medal of the {{ill|Internationale Gustav Mahler Gesellschaft|de}}
• 1993 Cross of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit
• 1998 Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany{{cite web | title=Aufführung: Passionsmusik lockt in Christus-Kirche | website=NWZonline | date=8 April 2009 | url=https://www.nwzonline.de/oldenburg-kreis/kultur/passionsmusik-lockt-in-christus-kirche_a_1,0,475126698.html | language=de | access-date=22 December 2021}}
• 2005 Conductors Award in the opera category from the Australian critic's Green Room Award for a new production of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman at Opera Australia in Sydney and Melbourne

Albrecht's compositions have been described as basically tonal, traditional and neo-romantic. At the age of 22, Albrecht had already composed 116 works. He returned to composing in 2009, and wrote a string trio for his daughters, followed by a piano quintet. He wrote five string quartets.{{cite web | title=George-Alexander-Albrecht » Werke | website=George-Alexander-Albrecht | url=http://www.george-alexander-albrecht.de/werke/#all | language=de | access-date=23 December 2021}} Commissioned by Silvius von Kessel, he wrote a motet for the Dombergchor Erfurt about the life of Saint Elisabeth. He composed many lieder for different ensembles, inspired by poetry of Gerhard Altenbourg, Ernst Barlach, Paul Celan, Gerhart Hauptmann and Erich Kästner's "Die 13 Monate", and a cycle setting texts from Buchenwald concentration camp.

Albrecht composed an opera for children Die Schneekönigin, after Andersen's fairy-tale "The Snow Queen", initiated by Gudrun Schröfel, the conductor of the Mädchenchor Hannover.{{cite web | title=Albrecht, George Alexander | website=Ries & Erler | url=https://www.rieserler.de/komponist-autoren/albrecht-george-alexander/ | language=de | ref={{sfnref | Ries & Erler}} | access-date=22 December 2021}}{{cite web | title = Märchen als Oper? George Alexander Albrecht: "Die Schneekönigin" | work=Musikhochschule Weimar | date = 2015 | url = https://www.hfm-weimar.de/fileadmin/Musikwissenschaft/Musikwissenschaft/KWP_Schneeko__nigin.pdf | language=de | access-date = 23 December 2021}} It was premiered in Weimar in 2015.{{cite magazine | first = Roland H. | last = Dippel | title = Umjubelte Uraufführung der "Schneekönigin" am DNT Weimar | magazine = Oper & Tanz | date = January 2016 | url = https://www.operundtanz.de/archiv/2016/01/berichte-schneekoenigin.shtml | language = de | access-date = 23 December 2021}} His Requiem für Syrien (Requiem for Syria) for soloists, choir and orchestra was first performed in Dresden in June 2018 by the Dresdner Philharmonie conducted by Michael Sanderling.{{cite news |last = Dippel | first = Roland H. | url = https://www.nmz.de/online/zur-urauffuehrung-von-george-alexander-albrechts-requiem-fuer-syrien-in-dresden | title = Zur Uraufführung von George Alexander Albrechts "Requiem für Syrien" in Dresden | newspaper = Neue Musikzeitung | date = 6 June 2018 | language = German | access-date = 2 November 2021}} His First Symphony "Sinfonia di due Mondi" for mezzo-soprano and large orchestra on texts by Ulla Hahn received its world premiere in August 2019 by the Staatskapelle Weimar, conducted by his son Marc Albrecht.{{cite news | last = Lange | first = Joachim | url = https://www.nmz.de/online/der-klang-der-welt-oder-der-mut-zu-gefallen-spielzeitauftakt-der-staatskapelle-weimar | title = Der Klang der Welt oder der Mut zu Gefallen – Spielzeitauftakt der Staatskapelle Weimar | newspaper = Neue Musikzeitung | date = 27 August 2019 | language = German | access-date = 2 November 2021}}

His works include:

• 2015 (or 2016) Abwege für ein Barockensemble – {{OCLC|933890528}}
• 2015 Vier Buchenwald-Gesänge – {{OCLC|910839391}}
• 2015 19 Lieder – nach Gedichten von Harald Albrecht – {{OCLC|976505522}}
• 2015 Die Schneekönigin, fairy-tale opera – {{OCLC|937039731}}
• 2015 Himmel über Syrien – {{OCLC|911265620}}
• 2015 Der Geistkämpfer – Fünf Gesänge nach Texten von Ernst Barlach – {{OCLC|914163551}}
• 2016 Von guten Mächten – {{OCLC|941730203}}
• 2016 Heilige Elisabeth – {{OCLC|1034566968}}
• 2016/2017 Requiem für Syrien – {{OCLC|1128845589}}{{cite web | title=Requiem für Syrien – Terror und Trost | website=Deutschlandfunk | date=29 July 2018 | url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/requiem-fuer-syrien-terror-und-trost-100.html | language=de | access-date=22 December 2021}}[https://www.dresdnerphilharmonie.de/media/content/download/programmhefte/20180603_requiem.pdf Requiem für Syrien] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222200018/https://www.dresdnerphilharmonie.de/media/content/download/programmhefte/20180603_requiem.pdf |date=22 December 2021 }} (program book, in German) Dresdner Philharmonie 3 June 2018
• 2019 Symphony No. 1 "Sinfonia di due Mondi", for mezzo-soprano and large orchestra on texts by Ulla Hahn – {{OCLC|1128852421}}

• {{cite book|last=Albrecht|first=George|title=Das sinfonische Werk Hans Pfitzners: Textkritische Anmerkungen und Hinweise zur Aufführungspraxis|publisher=H. Schneider|publication-place=Tutzing|year=1987|isbn=978-3-7952-0505-8|oclc=17677016|language=de}}
• {{cite book|last=Albrecht|first=George|title=Die Symphonien von Gustav Mahler: Eine Einführung;|publisher=Niemeyer|publication-place=Hameln|year=1992|isbn=978-3-8271-9241-7|oclc=831836076|language=de}}
• Furtwängler, Wilhelm; Albrecht, George Alexander (ed.) (2004). Sinfonisches Konzert für Klavier und Orchester. In: Furtwängler, Wilhelm, 1886–1954. Works. 2002. Werkgruppe 1, Werke für Orchester ; Bd. 4. Berlin: Ries & Erler. {{OCLC|57218704}}

Three CDs with all of Furtwängler's symphonies have been released with the Staatskapelle Weimar.{{OCLC|68624621}}{{OCLC|71307416}}{{OCLC|145706511}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book | last=Hammer | first=Sabine | title=Das Opernhaus in Hannover : Architektur und Theatergeschichte | publisher=Schlütersche | publication-place=Hannover | year=1986 | isbn=978-3-87706-029-2 | oclc=14241538 | language=de}}
• {{cite web | title=George Alexander Albrecht: Der lachende Dirigent | website=STIPvisiten | date=1 June 1999 | url=http://stipvisiten.de/1999/06/der-lachende-dirigent/ | language=de | ref={{sfnref | STIPvisiten | 1999}} | access-date=22 December 2021}}

• {{official website|http://www.george-alexander-albrecht.de/}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.hfm-weimar.de/v1/studium/institute/fk1/dirigieren_korrepetition/Professoren/Albrecht_Georg-Alexander.php?lang=de|title=German-language biographical sketch of Albrecht|accessdate=16 December 2008|language=German|publisher=Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt, Weimar |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719041244/http://www.hfm-weimar.de/v1/studium/institute/fk1/dirigieren_korrepetition/Professoren/Albrecht_Georg-Alexander.php?lang=de|archive-date=19 July 2011}}
• {{Discogs artist}}
• {{IMDb name|11546073}}

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{{succession box | title=Generalmusikdirektor, Staatsoper Hannover | before=Günter Wich | years=1965–1993 | after=Christof Perick}}

{{succession box | title=Chief Conductor, Staatskapelle Weimar | before=Hans-Peter Frank | years=1996–2002 | after=Jac van Steen}}

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{{Portal bar|Classical music|Germany}}

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Category:1935 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:People from Osterholz

Category:21st-century German conductors (music)

Category:21st-century German male musicians

Category:German male conductors (music)

Category:Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Category:Albrecht family