Karl Haas (Conductor)

Born: December 27, 1900 - Karlsruhe, Germany
Died: July 7, 1970 - London, England

The German conductor and musicologist, Karl (Wilhelm Jacob) Haas, studied at the Classical College of Karlsruhe, at the Universities of Munich and Heidelberg, and with Professor Herman Roth.

After finishing his studies, Karl Haas worked as Music Assistant at the Dumont Theatre in Düsseldorf; then as Music advisor for Karlsruhe and Stuttgart radios. He was active as collector of valuable early instruments. He made microfilms of early music. In 1939 he emigrated to England. In 1943 (or 1941) he organised the London Baroque Ensemble, and led it until 1966 in performances of little-known Baroque music. He appeared with them in concerts, broadcasts and recordings. Formerly he was Music Drector of Old Vic in Bristol, anf gave the first performances of Strauss Wind Music. Recordings: with Westminster, Parlophone and Pye.

Karl Haas composed Incidental Music for Old Vic (Bristol) and many stage scores. He also edited works by Cherubini, George Frideric Handel, Boccherini, Dittersdorf and Haydn. He published 300 Years of Military Music and wrote articles in The Score.

Source: Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20^th Century Classical Musicians (1997); International Who's Who in Music & International Directory (4^th Edition, 1962)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (November 2002, May 2007)

Karl Haas: Short Biography | London Baroque Ensemble | Recordings of Vocal Works

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