Lars Vogt
{{Short description|German concert pianist and conductor (1970–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lars Vogt
| image = Lars Vogt (2018).jpg
| image_upright =
| caption = Vogt in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date|1970|09|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2022|09|05|1970|09|08}}
| death_place = Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany
| education = Musikhochschule Hannover
| occupation = {{ubl| Classical pianist | Conductor | Academic teacher}}
| organization = {{ubl| Berlin Philharmonic | Spannungen | Musikhochschule Hannover Royal Northern Sinfonia | Orchestre de chambre de Paris}}
| awards = {{ubl| Leeds International Piano Competition | Brahms-Preis | Opus Klassik }}
}}
Lars Vogt (8 September 1970 – 5 September 2022) was a German classical pianist, conductor and academic teacher. Noted by The New York Times for his interpretations of Brahms,{{Cite news |last=Tommasini |first=Anthony |author-link=Anthony Tommasini |date=10 April 2017 |title=Review: Lars Vogt Offers His Intensely Probing Take on Bach |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/arts/music/review-lars-vogt-offers-his-intensely-probing-take-on-bach.html |access-date=6 September 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=7 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907191057/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/arts/music/review-lars-vogt-offers-his-intensely-probing-take-on-bach.html |url-status=live }} Vogt performed as a soloist with major orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic. He was the music director of the Orchestre de chambre de Paris at the time of his death and also served as the music director of the Royal Northern Sinfonia. He ran a festival of chamber music, Spannungen, from 1998, and succeeded his teacher Karl-Heinz Kämmerling as professor of piano at the Musikhochschule Hannover.
Life and career
Vogt was born in Düren on 8 September 1970 and began taking piano lessons at the age of six.{{cite news |author1=Telegraph Obituaries |title=Lars Vogt, pianist who dazzled audiences with thrilling performances of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/09/06/lars-vogt-pianist-who-dazzled-audiences-thrilling-performances/ |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=6 September 2022 |quote=Lars Vogt was born in Düren, in the west of Germany, on September 8 1970, the younger of three children of a professional footballer and his wife. At the age of six he began taking piano lessons with a teacher who instilled in him an enthusiasm for music of all kinds. |archive-date=7 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907052105/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/09/06/lars-vogt-pianist-who-dazzled-audiences-thrilling-performances/ |url-status=live }} He studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover with Karl-Heinz Kämmerling.{{cite news | last=Brug | first=Manuel | url=https://www.welt.de/kultur/article240884403/Pianist-Lars-Vogt-Ihn-liebten-die-Goetter-allzu-sehr.html | title=Ihn liebten die Götter, allzu sehr | newspaper=Die Welt | date=6 September 2022 | language=de | access-date=6 September 2022 | archive-date=6 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906131915/https://www.welt.de/kultur/article240884403/Pianist-Lars-Vogt-Ihn-liebten-die-Goetter-allzu-sehr.html | url-status=live }} He rose to prominence after winning second prize at the 1990 Leeds International Piano Competition{{Cite web |last=Linton |first=Siena |title=Much-loved pianist and conductor Lars Vogt dies after cancer diagnosis, aged 51 |url=https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/lars-vogt-pianist-conductor-dies/ |date=6 September 2022 |access-date=6 September 2022 |website=Classic FM |language=en |archive-date=5 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905180506/https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/lars-vogt-pianist-conductor-dies/ |url-status=live }} and went on to give major concerto and recital performances.{{cite news | last=Häfner | first=Falk | url=https://www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news-kritik/lars-vogt-gestorben-nachruf-100.html | title=Pianist und Dirigent Lars Vogt ist tot: Feinfühlig, zugewandt, herzlich | work=BR-Klassik | date=5 September 2022 | language=de | access-date=6 September 2022 | archive-date=5 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905221744/https://www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news-kritik/lars-vogt-gestorben-nachruf-100.html | url-status=live }}{{cite news | last=Mauró | first=Helmut | url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/lars-vogt-nachruf-1.5652083 | title=Der kongeniale Partner | newspaper=Süddeutsche Zeitung | date=6 September 2022 | language=de | access-date=6 September 2022 | archive-date=20 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920015513/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/nachruf-pianist-lars-vogt-1.5652083 | url-status=live }} His first major recordings were with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Rattle, first in 1992 Schumann's Piano Concerto and Grieg's Piano Concerto. On the record cover, pianist and conductor appeared in informal clothes, which was new at the time.{{cite news | last=Brachmann | first=Jan | url=https://zeitung.faz.net/faz/feuilleton/2022-09-07/d733e96e7acb13cb0b7a19306766f363/?GEPC=s9 | title=Nahbar, gedankenvoll | newspaper=FAZ | date=7 September 2022 | language=de | access-date=7 September 2022 | archive-date=7 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907064412/https://zeitung.faz.net/faz/feuilleton/2022-09-07/d733e96e7acb13cb0b7a19306766f363/?GEPC=s9 | url-status=live }} They went on to record Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 in 1995. Vogt first played with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra. He first appeared with the New York Philharmonic and Lorin Maazel in the 2003/04 season. He had a close relationship with the Berlin Philharmonic who made him their first pianist in residence, again with Rattle. Vogt recorded commercially for such labels as EMI/Warner Classics, Avi Music, and Ondine.{{cite news | author=Andrew Clements | title=Brahms: Intermezzi Op 117; Piano Pieces Op 118 and 119: Lars Vogt | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/mar/05/classicalmusicandopera.shopping1 | work=The Guardian | date=5 March 2004 | access-date=11 December 2014 | archive-date=11 December 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211103914/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/mar/05/classicalmusicandopera.shopping1 | url-status=live }}
File:Lars Vogt - Letzter Auftritt bei SPANNUNGEN.jpg]]
He was a dedicated chamber musician, focused on the repertoire of music from the classical period and the romantic era. He also collaborated with composers such as Volker David Kirchner, Thomas Larcher, Kryštof Mařatka and Erkki-Sven Tüür.{{cite magazine | title=Lars Vogt, pianist and conductor, has died aged 51 | url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical%20music%20news/article/lars-vogt-pianist-and-conductor-has-died-aged-51 | magazine=Gramophone | date=6 September 2022 | access-date=6 September 2022}} He founded the festival Spannungen for chamber music in Heimbach (Eifel) in the hydro-electric power plant Kraftwerk Heimbach in 1998.{{Cite web |title=Lars Vogt |url=https://pittsburghsymphony.org/pso_home/biographies/guest-artists/vogt-lars |access-date=6 September 2022 |publisher=Pittsburgh Symphony |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908084026/https://pittsburghsymphony.org/pso_home/biographies/guest-artists/vogt-lars |url-status=live }} Many of the concerts with friends were recorded live. Reviewer Jan Brachmann from the FAZ noted that Dvořák's Dumky Trio was played by violinist Christian Tetzlaff, cellist Tanja Tetzlaff and Vogt, as if the players took time for sinking together into moods ("für das gemeinsame Versinken in Stimmungen"). Vogt gave his last concert there, playing on 26 June 2022 with Christian Tetzlaff, Barbara Buntrock and Tanja Tetzlaff{{cite news | url=https://www.aachener-zeitung.de/kultur/musik/ein-bewegender-abschluss-des-festivals_aid-72000435 | title=Ein bewegender Abschluss des Festivals | newspaper=Aachener Zeitung | date=27 June 2022 | language=de | access-date=6 September 2022 | archive-date=8 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908084002/https://www.aachener-zeitung.de/kultur/musik/ein-bewegender-abschluss-des-festivals_aid-72000435 | url-status=live }} the Piano Quartet No. 3 by Johannes Brahms.{{cite web | url=https://www.spannungen.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Anku%CC%88ndigung_Spannungen_ES_Mai.pdf | title=Sonntag 26. Juni 2022 20 Uhr Abschlusskonzert | work=Kammermusikfest 19.-26. Juni 2022 | publisher=Spannungen | date=2022 | language=de | access-date=6 September 2022 | archive-date=8 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908084004/https://www.spannungen.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Anku%CC%88ndigung_Spannungen_ES_Mai.pdf | url-status=live }}
Vogt founded the initiative {{ill|Rhapsody in School|de}}, a network of classical musicians who play in school lessons to provide children a personal close meeting with musicians and their music.
After Kämmerling's death in 2012, he succeeded him as professor of piano at the Musikhochschule Hannover.{{Cite web |title=Lars Vogt |url=https://www.hmtm-hannover.de/de/aktuelles/meldungen/archiv/2022/september/artikel/trauer-um-lars-vogt/ |publisher=Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover |date=5 September 2022 |language=de |access-date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906104122/https://www.hmtm-hannover.de/de/aktuelles/meldungen/archiv/2022/september/artikel/trauer-um-lars-vogt/ |url-status=live }}
= Conductor =
In May 2014, the Royal Northern Sinfonia announced the appointment of Vogt as its next music director, his first post as a conductor, effective September 2015.{{cite press release | url=http://www.sagegateshead.com/news-and-blogs/press-releases/royal-northern-sinfonia-announces-lars-vogt-as-new/ | title=Royal Northern Sinfonia announces Lars Vogt as new Music Director ahead of Sage Gateshead's 10th birthday season | publisher=Royal Northern Sinfonia | date=28 May 2014 | access-date=11 December 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219060025/http://www.sagegateshead.com/news-and-blogs/press-releases/royal-northern-sinfonia-announces-lars-vogt-as-new | archive-date=19 December 2014 }}{{cite news | author=Imogen Tilden | title=Lars Vogt to replace Zehetmair at Royal Northern Sinfonia | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/may/29/lars-vogt-replace-music-director-thomas-zehetmair-royal-northern-sinfonia | work=The Guardian | date=29 May 2014 | access-date=11 December 2014 | archive-date=16 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916051439/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/may/29/lars-vogt-replace-music-director-thomas-zehetmair-royal-northern-sinfonia | url-status=live }}{{cite news | author=Gavin Engelbrecht | title=Royal Northern Sinfonia announces Lars Vogt as new music director | url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11241832.Royal_Northern_Sinfonia_announces_Lars_Vogt_as_new_music_director/ | work=The Northern Echo | date=28 May 2014 | access-date=11 December 2014 | archive-date=2 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402171053/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11241832.Royal_Northern_Sinfonia_announces_Lars_Vogt_as_new_music_director/ | url-status=live }} Vogt served as music director until 2020,{{cite press release | url=https://www.askonasholt.com/lars-vogt-appointed-music-director-of-the-orchestre-de-chambre-de-paris/ | title=Lars Vogt appointed Music Director of the Orchestre de chambre de Paris | publisher=Askonas Holt | date=9 October 2019 | access-date=16 March 2021}} and had the title of Principal Artistic Partner with the orchestra. In October 2019, the Orchestre de chambre de Paris (OCP) announced the appointment of Vogt as its new music director, effective with the 2020–2021 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.{{cite press release | url=http://www.orchestredechambredeparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Press-release-OCP-Lars-Vogt-music-director.pdf | title=Orchestre de chambre de Paris: Lars Vogt, new Music Director | publisher=Orchestre de Chambre de Paris | date=9 October 2019 | access-date=30 December 2020}} In December 2021, the OCP announced an extension of Vogt's contract through June 2025.{{cite press release | url=https://www.orchestredechambredeparis.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/CP-OCP-LarsVogt-dec2021-1.pdf | title=Lars Vogt renouvelé à la tête de l'Orchestre de chambre de Paris | publisher=Orchestre de Chambre de Paris | date=15 December 2021 | access-date=30 December 2021}} He held the OCP post until his death.
= Private life =
Vogt was first married to the Russian composer Tatjana Komarova. He lived with his second wife, violinist Anna Reszniak, and one child in Nuremberg, Bavaria.{{cite web | url=https://www.kdschmid.de/en/artist-details/lars-vogt-625-1/ | title=Soloist / Lars Vogt / Piano | publisher=KD Schmid | access-date=6 September 2022 | archive-date=7 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907220804/https://www.kdschmid.de/en/artist-details/lars-vogt-625-1/ | url-status=live }} In February 2021, Vogt was diagnosed with cancer of the throat and liver, continuing to play while receiving treatment,{{cite web | last=Welscher | first=Hartmut | title=The Time Remaining | url=https://van-magazine.com/mag/lars-vogt/ | work=VAN Magazine | date=14 May 2021 | access-date=30 December 2020 | archive-date=14 May 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514150933/https://van-magazine.com/mag/lars-vogt/ | url-status=live }} and recording between rounds of chemotherapy.
Vogt died in a clinic in Erlangen in the presence of his family on 5 September 2022, three days before his 52nd birthday.{{cite web|url=https://operawire.com/obituary-pianist-conductor-lars-vogt-dies-at-51/|title=Obituary: Pianist & Conductor Lars Vogt Dies at 51|work=OperaWire|first=Francisco|last=Salazar|date=5 September 2022|access-date=5 September 2022|archive-date=5 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905180925/https://operawire.com/obituary-pianist-conductor-lars-vogt-dies-at-51/|url-status=live}}{{cite news | author= | url=https://www.nporadio4.nl/klassiek/podium/c41c0dbf-16da-439d-9c94-55ec00b2af5b/pianist-lars-vogt-is-overleden | title=Pianist Lars Vogt (51) overleden | work=NPO Radio 4 | date=5 September 2022 | access-date=6 September 2022 | archive-date=6 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906004034/https://www.nporadio4.nl/klassiek/podium/c41c0dbf-16da-439d-9c94-55ec00b2af5b/pianist-lars-vogt-is-overleden | url-status=live }}
Legacy
;In memoriam Lars Vogt
- 25 June 2023 Premiere: Jörg Widmann's ..und wenn wir uns mitten im Leben meinen.., Torso for 2 violins and piano (Antje Weithaas, violin – Christian Tetzlaff, violin – {{ill|Kiveli Dörken|de}}, piano), Kraftwerk Heimbach, Germany.{{cite web | title=Jörg Widmann – Werke | website=Jörg Widmann | url=https://www.joergwidmann.com/werke.html | language=de | access-date=6 June 2023 | archive-date=6 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606170145/https://www.joergwidmann.com/werke.html | url-status=live }}
Awards
In 2004, Vogt was awarded both the Brahms-Preis{{cite web | title=Brahms-Preis 2004 – Lars Vogt | url=https://brahms-sh.de/brahms-preis-2004-lars-vogt/ | website=brahms-sh.de | date= | access-date=7 September 2022 | archive-date=7 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907220748/https://brahms-sh.de/brahms-preis-2004-lars-vogt/ | url-status=live }} and the Echo Klassik. He was awarded the {{ill|Kulturpreis der Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Rheinland|de}} in 2006,{{cite news | title=Dürener Pianist Lars Vogt erhält 'Goldene Silberne Stimmgabel' | url=https://www.aachener-nachrichten.de/kultur/duerener-pianist-lars-vogt-erhaelt-goldene-silberne-stimmgabel_aid-27427119 | work=Aachener Nachricthen | date=12 August 2009 | access-date=30 December 2020 | archive-date=30 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730111324/https://www.aachener-nachrichten.de/kultur/duerener-pianist-lars-vogt-erhaelt-goldene-silberne-stimmgabel_aid-27427119 | url-status=live }} and received the Würth Prize of Jeunesses Musicales Germany in 2016.{{cite news | title=Würth-Musikpreis für Solopianist Lars Vogt | url=https://www.nmz.de/kiz/nachrichten/wuerth-musikpreis-fuer-solopianist-lars-vogt | work=NMZ | date=14 October 2016 | access-date=30 December 2020 | archive-date=29 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029172710/https://www.nmz.de/kiz/nachrichten/wuerth-musikpreis-fuer-solopianist-lars-vogt | url-status=live }} That year, a recording of the Piano Trios by Brahms with Christian Tetzlaff and Tanja Tetzlaff was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance. Vogt was awarded an Opus Klassik in 2021 and the Pablo Casals Award posthum in 2023.{{cite web | title=Lars Vogt erhält postum den Pablo Casals Preis | website=Klassik Radio | date=28 September 2023 | url=https://www.klassikradio.de/aktuelles/lars-vogt-erhaelt-postum-den-pablo-casals-preis-konberg-festival/ | language=de | access-date=1 October 2023}}
Discography
Gramophone has regarded several of Vogt's recordings as benchmarks, as solo pianist, chamber musician and soloist and conductor with orchestra.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/lars-vogt-12-unmissable-recordings |title=Lars Vogt: 12 unmissable recordings |magazine=Gramophone |date=6 September 2022 |access-date=6 September 2022}} Many recordings were made live at the Spannungen festival by label Avi (of CAvi), marked by the festival's name in the label column.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://larsvogt.com/}} {{in lang|de|en}}
- {{discogs artist|Lars Vogt}}
- {{IMDb name|3450078}}
- [https://www.askonasholt.com/artists/lars-vogt/ Lars Vogt] (management) Askonas Holt
- [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/13/pianist-lars-vogt-facing-the-music- "Facing the music": Lars Vogt] (interview) The Guardian, 13 July 2015
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{{succession box | title=Music Director, Royal Northern Sinfonia | before=Thomas Zehetmair | years=2015–2020 | after=Dinis Sousa (principal conductor)}}
{{succession box | title=Music Director, Orchestre de chambre de Paris | before=Douglas Boyd | years=2020–2022 | after=Thomas Hengelbrock}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vogt, Lars}}
Category:21st-century German male classical pianists
Category:21st-century German classical pianists
Category:21st-century German male musicians
Category:Deaths from esophageal cancer in Germany
Category:Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover alumni
Category:German male classical pianists
Category:Prize-winners of the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition