Hans Pfitzner Hans Pfitzner, a German composer with a strong sense of national identity, was born in Moscow on May 5, 1869. His father, Robert, then an orchestral musician, moved the family to Frankfurt am Main in 1872, where he became concertmaster at the city theater. Frankfurt always remained the city with which Hans Pfitzner felt most connected.[4][5]
At the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt, Pfitzner studied piano with James Kwast and composition with Iwan Knorr. After graduating in 1890, he collaborated with Carl Friedberg on an orchestral version of Humperdinck's opera 'Hänsel und Gretel', which was performed under the direction of Richard Strauss—a formative experience that later influenced his own Christmas opera 'Das Christ-Elflein'.[5]
[5] His opera 'Palestrina', premiered in Munich in 1917, brought him widespread acclaim and is considered his most important work.[1][2] During the Nazi era, Pfitzner's relationship with Bruno Walter deteriorated, and Hitler's personal dislike, based on misconceptions about Pfitzner's origins, led to futile attempts to gain his recognition.[3]
Although Pfitzner sympathized with some Nazi ideas, he was denied the hoped-for appreciation from Hitler. Despite public praise, he did not receive the support he desired. During the war, his Munich house was destroyed, after which he spent some time in a sanatorium in Garmisch, where Strauss also lived.[5]
Three cello concertos are noteworthy in Pfitzner's oeuvre. The first was composed as a result of his friendship with Heinrich Kiefer, while the two later ones were dedicated to Gaspar Cassadò and Ludwig Hoelscher. The works are characterized by an intense dialogue between soloist and orchestra.
The Duo for Violin, Cello and Small Orchestra, Op. 43, composed in 1937, is a single-movement work with a clear structure. Despite controversies, Pfitzner's music remains an important part of the German musical tradition.[5]
The Duo for Violin, Cello and Small Orchestra, Op. 43, composed in 1937, is a single-movement work with a clear structure. Despite controversies, Pfitzner's music remains an important part of the German musical tradition.[5]
[5]