Hermann Reutter


Hermann Reutter was a German composer and pianist who worked as an academic teacher, university administrator, recitalist, and accompanist. He composed several operas, orchestral works, and chamber music, and especially many lieder, setting poems by authors writing in German, Russian, Spanish, Icelandic, English, and ancient Egyptian and Greek, among others.
He was director of Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium in Frankfurt from 1936 to 1945 and of the Musikhochschule Stuttgart from 1956 to 1966. He then taught master classes, regularly at the Musikhochschule München and at universities in the United States, Europe, and Japan. He founded the Internationale Hugo-Wolf-Akademie in Stuttgart in 1968, serving as its president until his death.

Career

Reutter was born in Stuttgart, where he took singing lessons with Emma Rückbeil-Hiller. He moved to Munich in 1920 and studied voice with Karl Erler and then, at the Musikhochschule München, piano with Franz Dorfmüller, organ with Ludwig Mayer, and composition with Walter Courvoisier.
He took part in the Donaueschingen Festival from 1923 and had contact to the "Donaueschingen circle", especially to Paul Hindemith. From 1926, he was a frequent composer at the annual festival of the Allgemeiner Deutscher Musikverein, for several world premieres of his works. He focused on lied recitals as an accompanist from 1929, working with notable singers and conductors of the period. Between 1930 and 1936, he toured the U.S. seven times as the accompanist of singer Sigrid Onegin.
In 1932, Reutter was appointed principal composition professor at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart. He composed the opera Lübecker Totentanz based on at the Marienkirche in Lübeck. Reutter was a member of the Nazi Party. In 1936, his opera Doktor Johannes Faust was premiered at the Oper Frankfurt. The same year, he became the director of Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium in Frankfurt, which was called the Staatliche Musikhochschule after 1938.
After World War II, he returned to Stuttgart. He took part in the inaugural Ferienkurse für internationale neue Musik in Darmstadt in 1946, and accompanied Henny Wolff in selections from Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, songs from Ernst Krenek's Reisetagebuch, Op. 62, and his own compositions. In 1948 and 1949, he was an instructor there for lied singing and its accompaniment. In 1951, a concert at the festival of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eugen Jochum, presented his Concerto for Two Pianos, Op. 63, with him and Hans Schröter as soloists.
In 1950, Reutter composed a "Hymne an Deutschland" which President Theodor Heuss suggested as the national anthem, but it was not chosen. From 1952, he was professor of composition and lied interpretation at the Stuttgart Musikhochschule. In 1955, he became a member of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin and the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste in Munich. He served as a juror of the ARD International Music Competition from 1956, and later as chairman of the jury in the category Singing. Reutter became the director of the Musikhochschule Stuttgart in 1956 and director emeritus in 1966. He taught internationally from 1960 in master classes at several universities in the U.S., Europe and Japan. He held a master class for lied at the Musikhochschule München from 1966 to 1974. He founded the in Stuttgart in 1968, and served as its president.

Private life

Reutter married Liselotte Lauk in 1940. The couple had two daughters and a son. Reutter died in Heidenheim an der Brenz.

Awards

Reutter received, among others, the Ludwig Spohr Award of Braunschweig in 1953, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1959, an honorary doctorate from the Music and Arts Institute in San Francisco in 1976, and the Hugo Wolf Medal of the International Hugo Wolf Society in Vienna the same year.

Works

Reutter's compositions are published by Schott Music:

Stage

Saul, opera in 1 act, Op. 33 ; libretto based on the play by Alexander Lernet-HoleniaDer verlorene Sohn, opera in 5 scenes, Op. 34 ; libretto by Rainer Maria Rilke after André Gide; revised in 1952 as the oratorio Die Rückkehr des verlorenen SohnesDie Prinzessin und der Schweinehirt, musical drama in 10 scenes ; libretto after Hans Christian AndersenDer Lübecker Totentanz, ein altes Mysterienspiel, Op. 35 Der neue Hiob, ein Lehrstück for soloists, chorus, piano and string orchestra, Op. 37 ; libretto by Robert SeitzDoktor Johannes Faust, opera in 3 acts, Op. 47 ; libretto by Ludwig Andersen based on the puppet play by Karl Joseph Simrock, ballet in 4 scenes, Op. 48 Odysseus, opera in 3 acts, Op. 55 ; libretto by Rudolf BachDer Weg nach Freudenstadt. Ballade der Landstraße in 5 scenes, Op. 66 ; libretto by Sonja KortyDon Juan und Faust, opera in 7 scenes, Op. 75 ; libretto by Ludwig Andersen after Christian Dietrich GrabbeTopsy. Ein Spiel nach einer Idee von Sonia Korty, Op. 76 ; libretto by Fred Schmitz based on the idea by Sonja KortyNotturno Montmartre, ballet in 4 scenes Die Witwe von Ephesus, opera in 1 act ; libretto by Ludwig Andersen after PetroniusDer Tod des Empedokles, "Concerto Scenico" in 2 acts ; libretto by Friedrich HölderlinDie Brücke von San Luis Rey, scenes from the novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder ; 2 versions; libretto by Gerhard ReutterHamlet, opera in 5 acts ; libretto by August Wilhelm Schlegel after William Shakespeare

Orchestral

Die Kirmes von Delft, ballet suite, Op. 48 Tanz-Variationen, Op. 76a Notturno Montmartre, ballet suite Sinfonie for string orchestra
  • ''Figurinen zu Hofmannsthals "Jedermann"''

Concertante

  • Concerto No. 1 for piano and chamber orchestra, Op. 19 Sinfonische Fantasie, concerto no. 3 for piano and orchestra, Op. 50
  • Concerto No. 4 "Variation über ein eigenes Thema in einem Satz" in G minor, Op. 62
  • Concerto in E in one movement for 2 pianos and orchestra, Op. 63
  • Concertino for piano and string orchestra, Op. 69 Konzertvariationen for piano and orchestra Aus dem Hohelied Salomonis, concerto grosso for alto, viola, piano and orchestra Prozession, dialogue for cello and orchestra ; written for and premiered by cellist Gaspar CassadóCapriccio, Aria und Finale for piano and orchestra Epitaph für Ophelia for violin and chamber orchestra

Chamber music

Rhapsodie for violin and piano, Op. 51 Musik for viola and piano Cinco Caprichos sobre Cervantes for viola solo Pièce concertante for alto saxophone and piano Sonata Monotematica for cello or bassoon and piano

Piano

Fantasia apocalyptica, Op. 7 Variationen über den Choral "Komm, süßer Tod, komm, sel'ge Ruh'!" von Johann Sebastian Bach, Op. 15 Die Passion in 9 Inventionen aus den "Biblischen Szenen", Op. 25 ; also for guitar Tanz-Suite, Op. 29Kleine Klavierstücke, Op. 28

Vocal

Reutter set poems by various Russian authors, Rainer Maria Rilke, Friedrich Rückert, Federico García Lorca, Icelandic poems, Friedrich Hölderlin, ancient Egyptian poems, Goethe, Sappho and Langston Hughes, among many others.3 Gesänge for medium voice and string quartet or string orchestra, Op. 3 ; words by Friedrich HölderlinRussische Lieder, 8 songs for voice and piano, Op. 21 ; words by Fyodor Tyutchev, Calzow, Sergei Yesenin and Leo TolstoyMissa brevis for alto, violin and cello, Op. 22 Russische Lieder, 6 songs for voice and piano, Op. 23 ; words by Leo Tolstoy, Mikhail Lermontov, Calzow, Afanasy Fet and Alexander BlokDie Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke for medium voice and piano, Op. 31 ; words by Rainer Maria RilkeSolokantate nach Worten des Matthias Claudius for alto, viola and piano, Op. 45 4 Lieder for voice and piano, Op. 54 ; words by Friedrich Rückert3 Gesänge for low voice and piano, Op. 56 ; words by Friedrich HölderlinFünf antike Oden nach Gedichten von Sappho for mezzo-soprano, viola and piano, Op. 57 5 Lieder for low voice and piano, Op. 58 ; words by Theodor Storm9 Lieder und Gesänge for high voice and piano, Op. 59 ; words by Gottfried Keller3 Lieder for high voice and piano, Op. 60 ; words by Matthias Claudius3 Lieder for high voice and piano, Op. 61 ; words by Clemens Brentano3 Lieder nach Gedichten von Friedrich Hölderlin for high voice and piano, Op. 67 ; words by Friedrich HölderlinRussische Lieder, 7 songs for voice and piano, Op. 68 ; words by Leo Tolstoy, Sergei Yesenin and Nikolay Gumilev7 Gesänge aus "Gesicht und Antlitz" for baritone and piano, Op. 64 ; words by Hans Heinrich Ehrler12 Lieder aus "Gesicht und Antlitz" for high voice and piano, Op. 65 ; words by Hans Heinrich EhrlerLyrisches Konzert for soprano, flute, piano, timpani and string orchestra, Op. 70 ; words by Eckart PeterichSechs Gedichte aus "Westöstlicher Diwan" for soprano, baritone and piano, Op. 73 ; words by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheMonolog der Iphigenie for female voice and orchestra, Op. 74 ; words by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheHymne an Deutschland for medium voice and piano ; words by Rudolf Alexander SchröderDer himmlische Vagant, Lyrisches Portrait des François Villon for alto, baritone and chamber orchestra ; words by François VillonLieder der Liebe, 4 Gedichte for soprano and piano ; words by Ricarda HuchKleines geistliches Konzert nach Worten von Christian Wagner for alto and viola Spanischer Totentanz, 5 Poems for 2 medium voices and orchestra ; words by Federico García LorcaAus dem Hohelied Salomonis, Concerto Grosso for alto, viola, piano and orchestra 3 Zigeunerromanzen for voice and piano ; words by Federico García LorcaMeine dunklen Hände, 5 Negergedichte for baritone and piano ; words by Langston Hughes and Arna BontempsDie Jahreszeiten, 4 Gedichte for medium voice and piano ; words by Friedrich Hölderlin6 späte Gedichte for voice and piano ; words by Ricarda HuchWeltlicht, 7 Icelandic poems for bass and orchestra ; words based on the novel Heimsljós by Halldór LaxnessKleine Ballade von den drei Flüssen for soprano and chamber orchestra or piano ; words by Federico García LorcaEin kleines Requiem for bass, cello and piano ; words by Federico García LorcaAndalusiana, Arien und Intermezzi for soprano and orchestra or piano ; words by Federico García LorcaEin Füllen ward geboren, Chanson Variée in 3 Strophen for medium voice and piano Epitaph für einen Dichter for high voice and piano ; words from A Green Bough by William Faulkner5 Fragmente nach Friedrich Hölderlin for tenor and piano ; words by Friedrich HölderlinDrei Monologe des Empedokles for baritone and orchestra or piano ; words by Friedrich HölderlinSzene und Monolog der Marfa for soprano and orchestra ; words from the play Demetrius by Friedrich SchillerSankt Sebastian, Triptychon for baritone and piano ; words by E. F. SommerBogenschützen, Vocals for high voice and piano ; words by Federico García Lorca9 Lieder nach Gedichten von Ricarda Huch for voice and piano ; words by Ricarda HuchChamber Music, 4 selected poems for low male voice and piano ; words by James Joyce5 Lieder nach Gedichten von Marie Luise Kaschnitz for medium voice and piano ; words by Marie Luise Kaschnitz4 Lieder nach Gedichten von Nelly Sachs for medium voice and piano ; words by Nelly SachsPrediger Salomo , Solo cantata for low voice, flute and piano or organ Tre Notturni, 3 Gedichte for low male voice, piano and wind quintet ; words by Friedrich NietzscheDer Liebe will ich singen, Minnenlieder aus der Zeit der Staufer for soprano, baritone and orchestra or piano 3 Lieder der Ophelia aus Shakespeares Hamlet for soprano and piano ; words by William ShakespeareHamlet-Sinfonie in 2 parts for soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, 2 choristers, narrator and orchestra ; words by August Wilhelm Schlegel after William ShakespeareHamlets erster und zweiter Monolog for the opera Hamlet for baritone and piano ; words by August Wilhelm Schlegel after William Shakespeare

Choral

Die Rückkehr des verlorenen Sohnes, chamber oratorio in 5 scenes for soloists, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 34 ; revision of the opera Der verlorene Sohn; words by André Gide in translation by Rainer Maria Rilke, oratorio for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, children's chorus, organ and orchestra, Op. 43 Der glückliche Bauer, cantata after songs of Matthias Claudius for mixed or male chorus and orchestra, Op. 44 ; words by Matthias ClaudiusGesang des Deutschen, cantata for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 49 ; words by Friedrich HölderlinChorfantasie in 3 movements for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 52 ; words by Johann Wolfgang von GoethePandora, cantata for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 72 ; words by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheBauernhochzeit. 8 Gedichte zum Singen, Spielen und Tanzen for mixed chorus and orchestra ; words from Stimmen der Völker by Johann Gottfried HerderSechs Chöre for mixed chorus, wind orchestra, piano, timpani and percussion ; words from El Gran Teatro del mundo by Pedro Calderón de la BarcaTriptychon for tenor, mixed chorus and orchestra ; words by Friedrich Schiller