Role

:

Conductor

Birth

:

1904 in Berlin, Germany

Death

:

2000 in Pacific Palisades, CA

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Hans Sommer was a German composer and conductor who lived from 1837 to 1922. He was born in Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany, and showed an early interest in music. His father was a musician and taught him to play the piano and violin. Sommer went on to study music at the Leipzig Conservatory, where he was a student of Felix Mendelssohn. After completing his studies, Sommer worked as a conductor in various German cities, including Leipzig, Berlin, and Frankfurt. He also composed music, primarily for the stage. His first opera, "Die Göttin der Vernunft" (The Goddess of Reason), was premiered in 1868 in Leipzig. Sommer went on to compose several more operas, including "Medea" (1870), "Die Nibelungen" (1871), and "Hannibal" (1879). In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Sommer was also a music critic. He wrote for several German newspapers and magazines, including the Berliner Tageblatt and the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik. He was known for his insightful and sometimes controversial reviews. Sommer's most famous work is his oratorio "Das Lied von der Glocke" (The Song of the Bell), which was premiered in 1879 in Frankfurt. The oratorio is based on a poem by Friedrich Schiller and tells the story of the casting of a bell. It is considered one of the greatest works of German choral music. Sommer received several awards and honors during his lifetime. In 1888, he was appointed a professor of music at the University of Berlin. He was also awarded the Order of the Red Eagle, a prestigious honor in Germany. In 1907, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite, the highest civilian honor in Germany at the time. Sommer continued to compose and conduct music until his death in 1922. He is remembered as one of the most important German composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His music is characterized by its lyricism and emotional depth, and his influence can be heard in the works of many later composers.

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