Role

:

Conductor

Birth

:

1941 in Goslar, Germany

Genre

:

Choral

 

Hermann Max is a renowned German conductor and musicologist who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on August 27, 1949, in Lübeck, Germany, Max showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He later studied musicology, philosophy, and German literature at the University of Hamburg, where he earned his doctorate in 1977. Max's career as a conductor began in the early 1970s when he founded the Lübecker Kammerorchester, a chamber orchestra that he led for over a decade. During this time, he also served as the conductor of the Lübecker Singakademie, a choir that he helped to establish. In 1984, Max was appointed as the conductor of the Rheinische Kantorei, a renowned choir based in Cologne, Germany. He held this position for over 30 years, during which time he established the choir as one of the leading ensembles in the world of early music. Max's work with the Rheinische Kantorei has been widely acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field of classical music. In 1991, he was awarded the Rheinland-Pfalz Kulturpreis, one of the most prestigious cultural awards in Germany. He has also been awarded the Echo Klassik award, the Diapason d'Or, and the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, among others. In addition to his work with the Rheinische Kantorei, Max has conducted many other orchestras and choirs throughout his career. He has worked with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Munich Philharmonic, the Hamburg State Opera, and the Stuttgart Opera, among others. He has also conducted numerous recordings, including works by Bach, Handel, Mozart, and Beethoven. One of the highlights of Max's career was his work on the recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, which was released in 1999. This recording, which featured the Rheinische Kantorei and the Das Kleine Konzert orchestra, was widely acclaimed and received numerous awards, including the Diapason d'Or and the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik. Max's work as a musicologist has also been significant. He has written extensively on the music of Bach, Handel, and Mozart, and has edited many editions of their works. He has also served as a professor of musicology at the University of Cologne, where he has taught courses on early music and music theory. Throughout his career, Max has been committed to promoting the music of the Baroque and Classical periods. He has worked tirelessly to bring the music of Bach, Handel, and Mozart to a wider audience, and has been a strong advocate for historically informed performance practices. His contributions to the world of classical music have been significant, and he continues to be a leading figure in the field today.

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