Franz-Paul Decker
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Franz-Paul Decker (26 June 1923 – 19 May 2014) was a German-born conductor.[1][2]
Life
Decker was born in
Hochschule für Musik with Philip Jarnach and Eugen Papst.[3] He made his conducting debut at the age of 22 at the Cologne Opera, and four years later was appointed to the Staatsoper Wiesbaden and subsequently to the positions of conductor of the Wiesbaden Symphony Orchestra and Generalmusikdirecktor in Bochum. In 1948, Decker was introduced to the composer Richard Strauss at a card game of whist. Strauss casually mentioned that he had just finished orchestrating four songs he had recently composed (the Four Last Songs
).
Decker was highly regarded for his performances of
operas
during his career.
Decker was Music Director of the
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra (1985–1991), and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (1991–1996, as chief conductor).[3] He served as Artistic Advisor to the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (1975–1977) and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (1980–1982). He was Principal Guest Conductor of Ottawa's National Arts Centre Orchestra (1991–1999) and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
(2003–2004).
Among the soloists he collaborated with were Arthur Rubinstein, Emil Gilels, Shura Cherkassky, Clara Haskil, Ida Haendel, Martha Argerich, Hélène Grimaud, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Jessye Norman, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, and Jon Vickers. His television broadcast of a Christmas concert with Luciano Pavarotti and orchestra, filmed at Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal in 1978 was broadcast annually around the world.
In 1975, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Concordia University.[5] He died in Montreal, Canada.
References
- ^ "À la mémoire de Franz-Paul Decker". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "Mor l'exdirector titular de l'OBC, Franz-Paul Decker" (in Catalan). Ara. 2014-05-21. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- Naxos Records. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "Honorary Degree Citation - Franz Paul Decker* | Concordia University Archives". archives.concordia.ca. Retrieved 2016-04-04.