Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Switzerland

Birth

:

February 29, 1896 in Moscow, Russia

Death

:

June 19, 1984 in Zürich, Switzerland

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Wladimir Vogel was a Swiss composer and pianist who was born on June 29, 1896, in Moscow, Russia. He was the son of a Swiss father and a Russian mother. Vogel's family moved to Switzerland when he was just a child, and he grew up in Zurich. He began his musical studies at a young age, studying piano with his mother and later with the renowned pianist Edwin Fischer. Vogel's early compositions were heavily influenced by the music of Arnold Schoenberg and the Second Viennese School. He studied with Schoenberg in Vienna in the early 1920s and became a close friend of the composer. Vogel's early works, such as his String Quartet No. 1 and his Piano Sonata No. 1, show the influence of Schoenberg's atonal style. In the late 1920s, Vogel began to develop his own unique style, which he called "tonal counterpoint." This style combined elements of tonality and counterpoint with the dissonant harmonies of the Second Viennese School. Vogel's tonal counterpoint can be heard in works such as his Symphony No. 1 and his String Quartet No. 2. Vogel was also interested in the music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and he incorporated elements of these styles into his compositions. His interest in early music can be heard in works such as his Ricercare for piano and his Sonata da chiesa for string quartet. During World War II, Vogel was forced to flee Switzerland due to his pacifist beliefs. He spent several years in Italy and France before eventually settling in the United States in 1941. While in the United States, Vogel continued to compose and perform, and he became a professor of composition at the University of Illinois. Vogel's later works, such as his Symphony No. 3 and his String Quartet No. 4, show a greater emphasis on tonality and a more lyrical style. However, his music always retained the complex counterpoint and dissonant harmonies that were characteristic of his earlier works. Vogel's most famous work is his opera, Der Günstling, which he composed in the 1930s. The opera tells the story of a court favorite who falls from grace and is ultimately executed. The opera's complex harmonies and intricate counterpoint make it a challenging work for performers, but it has been praised for its dramatic power and emotional intensity. Vogel's other notable works include his Piano Concerto, his String Trio, and his Sonata for Violin and Piano. His music has been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras and chamber ensembles, and he is considered one of the most important Swiss composers of the 20th century. Vogel died on August 9, 1984, in Sorengo, Switzerland. His legacy as a composer and pianist continues to be celebrated by musicians and music lovers around the world.

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