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Born: October 27, 1933 - Speyer am Rhein,, Germany
Died: October 23, 2018 - Berlin, Germany |
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The German conductor, Karl Hochreither [Hochreiter], graduated in 1953 from the University of Freiburg, where he studied German, history and philosophy. In 1954 he studied church music at the Nordwestdeutschen Musikakademie Detmold (organ with Michael Schneider). After the exam he continued his studies with emphasis on conducting, chamber music and organ.
In 1959 Karl Hochreither was appointed as Kantor with the office for church music of the Protestantischen Landeskirche der Pfalz in Speyer. Musicology studies at the University of Heidelberg. In he was 1961 only winner with the Berlin organ competition. In 1963 he was appointed as a teacher for artistic organ play at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule. In 1964 he became director of the Bach-Chor Berlin and the Bach-Collegium Berlin at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche, which he held until 2001, succeeding Hanns-Martin Schneidt and Helmuth Rilling..
In 1968 Karl Hochreither was guest Professor in the USA. In 1970 he was Artist in Residence at the University of Stellenbosch/South-Africa. In 1975 he received the record prize of the International Liszt Society for recording of organ works of Franz Liszt. In 1975/1977 he directed the Bach Symposium at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. In 1977 he directed line of the Berliner Musiktage within the framework of "Carinthischen Sommers". In 1984/1985 he was Artist in Residence at the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music in Manila/Philippines. In 1989 he was Artist in Residence at the Tainan Theological Col1ege in Tainan/Taiwan. In 1990 he made concert tours with the Bach-Chor Berlin and the Bach-Collegium Berlin to Israel, Poland and Japan.
In 1991 Karl Hochreither gave seminars about performance practice and conducting of performances of the Johannes-Passion (BWV 245) of J.S. Bach in Manila/Philippines and Taipei/Taiwan (first performance of the work in the Chinese culture area). In 1992 he gave organ courses and concerts in Singapore and Taiwan, and also made concert tours with the Bach-Chor Berlin and the Bach-Collegium Berlin to the USA (including Chicago, New York and Washington). In 1993 he made concert tour to Spain with the Bach-Chor Berlin and the Bach-Collegium Berlin to (10 performances of the Johannes-Passion (BWV 245) of J.S. Bach). The same year he received Award of the title 'Professoreh' by the governing mayor of Berlin, "in appreciation of outstanding cultural services to Berlin".
In the years 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2003, Karl Hochreither was Special Guest Artist and Festival Music Director at the Bach Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. In 2003 he directed the Bach Symposium at the Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Award of the Distinguished Service Cross 1st Class of the Service Medal of the Federal Republic of Germany "in acknowledgement its around people and State of acquired special services of people and State" by the Federal President.
International, world-wide activity, particularly in the USA included: concerts, courses, seminars, lectures, juror in competitions, guest conducting. Publications: Recordings; Analyses of Messiaen's, La Nativitè du Seigneur "and Pepping's Toccata und Fuge. 'Mitten wir im Leben sind' about performance practice of the vocal-instrumental works of J.S. Bach. An English translation appeared 2002 in the USA. Karl Hochreither died in October 2018 in Berlin at age 85, succumbed to a long and serious illness. |
