Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

Austria

Birth

:

1933 in Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Helmuth Froschauer is a renowned Austrian conductor, composer, and music educator. He was born on August 27, 1933, in Linz, Austria. Froschauer grew up in a musical family, and his father was a choir conductor. He began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and violin. Later, he attended the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where he studied conducting with Hans Swarowsky. Froschauer began his career as a conductor in 1957, when he was appointed as the conductor of the Vienna Boys' Choir. He held this position for 30 years, during which he conducted over 1,000 concerts and made numerous recordings. Under his leadership, the Vienna Boys' Choir became one of the most renowned choral ensembles in the world. In addition to his work with the Vienna Boys' Choir, Froschauer also conducted many other orchestras and choirs throughout his career. He was the principal conductor of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra from 1970 to 1973 and the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra from 1973 to 1976. He also conducted the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Berlin Philharmonic, among others. Froschauer was known for his interpretations of the music of Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert, as well as for his work with contemporary composers. He was a champion of the music of Austrian composer Gottfried von Einem, and he conducted the premieres of several of Einem's works. Throughout his career, Froschauer received many awards and honors for his contributions to music. In 1978, he was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, and in 1983, he was awarded the Golden Medal of the City of Vienna. He was also awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria in 1993. One of the highlights of Froschauer's career was his performance at the Salzburg Festival in 1976. He conducted a production of Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro," which was directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle and starred Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Kiri Te Kanawa. The production was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish Froschauer as one of the leading conductors of his generation. Froschauer was also a prolific composer, and he wrote music for a variety of ensembles and genres. His compositions include orchestral works, chamber music, choral music, and music for film and television. He was particularly interested in writing music for children, and he composed several works for the Vienna Boys' Choir. In addition to his work as a conductor and composer, Froschauer was also a dedicated music educator. He taught conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, and he was a guest lecturer at many other institutions around the world. He also wrote several books on music, including a biography of Mozart and a history of the Vienna Boys' Choir. Froschauer retired from conducting in 2003, but he continued to be active in the music world as a composer and educator. He passed away on August 1, 2020, at the age of 86. Throughout his long and illustrious career, Helmuth Froschauer made a significant contribution to the world of classical music, and his legacy continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.

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