Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (Conductor, Arranger)

Born: May 5, 1900 - Berlin, Germany
Died: May 28, 1973 - Holm-Holstein, near Hamburg, Germany

The respected German conductor, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, studied composition with Schreker at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. He also took courses at the Universities of Berlin, Heidelberg, and Münster.

In 1923 Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt became a repetiteur at the Wuppertal Opera. After conducting opera in Rostock (1928-1931) and Darmstadt (1931-1933), he held the post of 1^st conductor at the Hamburg State Opera (1935-1943). Then he joined the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, where he was made Generalmusikdirektor in 1944. In 1945 he was mandated by the British occupation authorities with the direction of the music section of the Hamburg Radio. He organized the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, which he led with notable distinction until his retirement in 1971. He was also chief conductor of the Stockholm Phiharmonic from 1955 to 1964). He appeared widely as a guest conductor; also conducted at Covent Garden in London and at the Bavarian Stale Opera in Munich.

Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt was especially admired for his cultured performances of the Austro-German repertoire. He also made a well-regarded recording of all the L.v. Beethoven symphonies.

Source: Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20^th Century Classical Musicians (1997)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (March 2006)

Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt: Short Biography | Recordings of Vocal Works | Recordings of Instrumental Works
Arrangements/Transcriptions: Works | Recordings of Works for Orchestra

Links to other Sites

Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (Musikproduktion Jürgen Höflich) [German]
Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (Wikipedia)

Allmusic: Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt > Overview