Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Switzerland

Birth

:

September 14, 1910

Death

:

1999

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Band

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Rolf Liebermann was a Swiss composer and conductor who was born on September 14, 1910, in Zurich, Switzerland. He was the son of a wealthy businessman and grew up in a privileged environment. His father was a lover of classical music and exposed him to it from a young age. Liebermann showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. Liebermann's musical education began at the Zurich Conservatory, where he studied piano, composition, and conducting. He later continued his studies in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, a renowned composition teacher. During this time, he also worked as a music critic for various publications, including the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. In 1937, Liebermann was appointed as the conductor of the Zurich Opera House, where he remained until 1943. During his time there, he conducted a wide range of operas, including works by Mozart, Verdi, and Wagner. He also began to compose his own music, including his first opera, "Penelope," which premiered in Zurich in 1943. In 1944, Liebermann moved to Paris, where he worked as a freelance composer and conductor. He composed music for films, ballets, and operas, including "Le Voyageur sans bagage" and "Les Mains sales." He also conducted the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's "Ebony Concerto" in 1946. In 1954, Liebermann was appointed as the director of the Hamburg State Opera, a position he held until 1959. During his time there, he introduced a number of innovative productions, including a staging of Mozart's "Don Giovanni" that was set in a modern-day nightclub. He also continued to compose, with works such as "Furioso," a ballet that premiered in Hamburg in 1956. In 1959, Liebermann was appointed as the director of the Paris Opera, a position he held until 1971. During his time there, he introduced a number of new productions, including a staging of Wagner's "Ring" cycle that was set in a modern-day industrial city. He also continued to compose, with works such as "La Forêt," an opera that premiered in Paris in 1965. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Liebermann was also a cultural ambassador for Switzerland. He served as the director of the Swiss Cultural Center in Paris from 1971 to 1977 and was appointed as the president of the International Music Council in 1975. Liebermann's music is characterized by its eclectic style, which draws on a wide range of influences, including jazz, folk music, and serialism. His works include operas, ballets, orchestral pieces, and chamber music. Some of his most famous works include "Furioso," "La Forêt," and "Les Echanges," a piece for two pianos and orchestra. Liebermann died on January 2, 1999, in Paris, France, at the age of 88. He left behind a legacy as one of the most innovative and influential composers and conductors of the 20th century. His music continues to be performed and celebrated around the world, and his contributions to the world of classical music will be remembered for generations to come.

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