Max Pommer
Max Pommer, sometimes called one of the few remaining "Old World" conductors, first drew attention for his interpretations of the works of J.S. Bach and other Baroque composers. But since the 1980s he has explored a much broader range of repertory, taking in compositions by contemporary Finnish composers Einojuhani Rautavaara and Kalevi Aho, as well as more traditional fare by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Debussy, and even Weill. Pommer, more than most first -- rank conductors, has devoted much of his career to teaching, as well as to conducting university ensembles. He has also made numerous recordings for Capriccio, Ondine, and Berlin Classics, and is known to many casual record buyers through his appearances on several popular theme-oriented recordings, such as the Classical Relaxation and Instruments of Classical Music series for Delta.
Max Pommer was born in Leipzig, Germany, in 1936. He enrolled at the Leipzig College of Music where he studied piano and conducting. He graduated in 1968 with a doctorate degree from the University of Leipzig. Pommer's career advanced slowly in the early years: his first important appointment was as conductor of the University of Leipzig Choir in 1975. In 1980 he was given a professorship in music at the university.
Pommer's interest in the music of J.S. Bach and other Baroque figures, like Handel and Vivaldi, led him to become one of the chief founders of the New Bach Collegium Musicum in 1978. He served as principal conductor of the group until 1987, leading it in numerous, highly acclaimed concerts, as well as recordings, one of which -- the Bach Brandenburg Concertos -- was awarded the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis.
In 1987 Pommer was appointed principal conductor of the Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra. He made several acclaimed recordings with this ensemble, even after his 1991 departure, including the series of Rautavaara symphonies and orchestral works for the Ondine label that began in the mid-'90s.
In 1990 Pommer was appointed professor of conducting at the Saarland (Germany) Academy of Music. He soon founded a student ensemble there, oddly- (but geographically-) named the Saar-Lor-Lux Orchestra. Since about 1991 Pommer began regularly guest-conducting several internationally known ensembles: the Hamburg Camerata, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and since 2000, the Holland Sinfonia. In 2001 Pommer was appointed artistic director of the Hamburg Camerata and has appeared with it at some of Europe's most popular music festivals, such as the Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
© TiVo
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RAUTAVAARA, E: Symphonies Nos. 1-8 (Franck, Pommer, Segerstam)
Belgium National Orchestra, Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester Leipzig, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Mikko Franck, Max Pommer, Leif Segerstam
Klassik - Erschienen bei Ondine am 24.02.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Cantus arcticus / Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 (Leipzig Radio Symphony, Pommer)
Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester Leipzig, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei Ondine am 01.01.1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schönberg: Verklärte Nacht / 2. Kammersinfonie
Kammerorchester Berlin, Leipziger Kammermusikvereinigung, Max Pommer
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei Eterna am 01.01.1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Eisler: Deutsche Sinfonie
Rundfunkchor Berlin, Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Max Pommer
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei Eterna am 30.03.1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Eisler: Fünf Orchesterstücke / Langer Marsch / Kammersinfonie / Scherzo mit Solovioline
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei Eterna am 19.04.1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Eisler: Kantaten aus dem Exil
Roswitha Trexler, Rundfunk-Jugendchor Leipzig, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei Eterna am 17.08.1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
MOZART, W.A.: Apollo et Hyacinthus / Bastien und Bastienne [Opera] (Pommer)
Gesamtaufnahmen von Opern - Erschienen bei Berlin Classics am 05.05.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos
New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer
Kammermusik - Erschienen bei CapriccioNR am 20.12.1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi, A.: Oboe Concertos, Vol. 1 - Rv 184, 447, 449, 452, 453, 454
Burkhard Glaetzner, Christine Schornsheim, New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer
Instrumentalmusik - Erschienen bei CapriccioNR am 01.01.1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Oboe Concertos
Burkhard Glaetzner, Christine Schornsheim, New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei CapriccioNR am 01.08.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classic Collection - Debussy, C: La Mer / Nocturnes / Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune / Petite Suite / La Boite A Joujoux
Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester Leipzig, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Simone Rist, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei CapriccioNR am 01.01.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Symphonies Nos. 1-3 (Leipzig Radio Symphony, Pommer)
Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester Leipzig, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei Ondine am 01.01.1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Solo Concertos
Christine Schornsheim, Karl Suske, Burkhard Glaetzner, New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei CapriccioNR am 11.03.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi, A.: Oboe Concertos, Vol. 2 - Rv 448, 451, 455, 460, 461
Burkhard Glaetzner, Christine Schornsheim, New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer
Instrumentalmusik - Erschienen bei CapriccioNR am 01.01.1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, Nos. 1-12
New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei CapriccioNR am 01.08.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 (Gothoni)
Ralf Gothóni, Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester Leipzig, Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Max Pommer, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Klassik - Erschienen bei Ondine am 01.01.1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cantates
Edita Gruberova, Siegfried Lorenz, Deutschen Bach-Vocalisten, New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer, Helmut Winschermann
Klassik - Erschienen bei CapriccioNR am 01.01.1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RAUTAVAARA: Symphony No. 6 / Cello Concerto
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Marko Ylonen, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei Ondine am 01.01.1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune
Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei Dream Collection am 25.03.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
AHO, K.: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 7 (Leipzig Radio Symphony, Pommer)
Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester Leipzig, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei Ondine am 01.01.1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, Nos. 5-8
Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Max Pommer
Klassik - Erschienen bei CapriccioNR am 01.08.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo