Role

:

Conductor

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Ballet

 

 

Orchestral

 

Walther Straram was a French conductor and music promoter who played a significant role in the development of classical music in France during the early 20th century. Born on August 25, 1876, in Paris, Straram was the son of a German father and a French mother. He grew up in a musical family and began his musical education at a young age. Straram studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he was a student of André Gedalge and Charles-Marie Widor. He also studied with the famous conductor Felix Mottl in Munich. Straram's early career was marked by his work as a violinist, and he played in several orchestras in Paris, including the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. In 1909, Straram founded the Concerts Straram, a series of concerts that aimed to promote contemporary music in France. The concerts were held at the Salle Gaveau in Paris and featured works by composers such as Debussy, Ravel, and Stravinsky. The Concerts Straram were a huge success and helped to establish Straram as a leading figure in the French music scene. In addition to his work with the Concerts Straram, Straram also conducted several orchestras in France and abroad. He was the principal conductor of the Orchestre des Concerts Colonne from 1912 to 1919 and conducted the Orchestre Lamoureux from 1920 to 1931. He also conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the United States in 1927. One of Straram's most significant achievements was his work with the Ballets Russes. In 1913, he conducted the premiere of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring with the Ballets Russes in Paris. The performance was met with outrage from the audience, who were shocked by the avant-garde music and choreography. Despite the controversy, the performance was a turning point in the history of classical music and established Straram as a champion of modern music. Straram continued to work with the Ballets Russes throughout his career, conducting several of their productions, including Petrushka and The Firebird. He also worked with other prominent composers of the time, including Debussy, Ravel, and Prokofiev. In addition to his work as a conductor, Straram was also a composer. He wrote several works, including a ballet, Les Noces de Psyché, which was premiered by the Ballets Russes in 1928. Straram's career was cut short by his death in 1933 at the age of 56. However, his legacy lived on through his contributions to the development of classical music in France. He was a champion of modern music and helped to establish the careers of many prominent composers of the time. His work with the Ballets Russes and the Concerts Straram helped to bring contemporary music to a wider audience and established him as one of the most important figures in the French music scene of the early 20th century.

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