Klaus Tennstedt
Germany's Klaus Tennstedt was one of the most influential conductors of the 20th century. He was known for his expressive interpretations of Mahler and other Austrian and German composers.
Born in 1926, Tennstedt's earliest musical instruction came in the form of violin lessons from his father, Hermann Tennstedt. Later, he attended the Leipzig Conservatory and studied violin, piano, and conducting. During World War II, he joined a Baroque orchestra, which allowed him to avoid military service under the Nazi regime. In 1948, he was appointed concertmaster of the Halle Stadttheater, but he was later forced to abandon the violin due to an injury or growth on his left hand. Remaining at the Halle, Tennstedt first worked as a vocal coach and accompanist, and then turned to conducting and made his debut in 1952. From 1954 to 1971, he held appointments conducting mostly opera, with the Chemnitz Opera from 1954 to 1957, the Dresden Opera from 1958 to 1962, and then with the Schwerin State Theater until 1971.
At this point, Tennstedt realized that he was being excluded from more ambitious opportunities since he was not a member of the dominant political party in East Germany. However, a concert in Sweden in 1971 gave him the opportunity that he needed to defect from the oppressive society. He remained in Sweden and conducted at the Göteborg Theater, and he also worked with the Swedish RSO. The following year, he relocated to Kiel in Northern Germany for an appointment as the music director at the Kiel Opera, which he held until 1976. In 1974 Walter Homburger invited Tennstedt to conduct Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. His performance inspired a frenzy of glowing reviews, which led to an invitation to conduct Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This concert created an explosive turning point in his career, attracting the attention of practically all of the major orchestras throughout the United States and Europe.
Tennstedt then received invitations from New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and made his British debut in 1976 with the London Symphony Orchestra, which generated even more demand and critical acclaim. He became the first German to conduct the Israel Philharmonic in 1978, and in the following season he began as the principal conductor for the NDR Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra. In 1980, he began as the principal guest conductor for the London Philharmonic, and by 1983 he became the music director and led several major tours and recordings until his resignation in 1987 due to health problems. However, Tennstedt continued working with the LPO in a reduced capacity with the title of conductor laureate until he retired in 1994. His recordings of the Mahler Symphonies with the LPO from this time are an important legacy, showcasing his mature and refined style.
© RJ Lambert /TiVo
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Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection"
Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jard van Nes, Yvonne Kenny, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Neville Creed
Symfonieën - Released by London Philharmonic Orchestra on 1 mrt. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Symfonieën - Released by London Philharmonic Orchestra on 1 feb. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 6
Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Symfonieën - Released by London Philharmonic Orchestra on 1 jun. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection"
Yvonne Kenny, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Klaus Tennstedt, Jard van Nes, Neville Creed
Klassiek - Released by London Philharmonic Orchestra on 1 mrt. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Klaus Tennstedt
Klassiek - Released by Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on 11 aug. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jessye Norman sings Strauss: Five Songs & Salome (Live)
Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jessye Norman
Symfonieën - Released by London Philharmonic Orchestra on 21 jan. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (2011 - Remaster) (2011 Remastered Version)
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 17 aug. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 (Digital Re-release)
Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Symfonieën - Released by London Philharmonic Orchestra on 11 mei 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner : Symphonie n°7 (Anton Bruckner)
Symfonische muziek - Released by London Philharmonic Orchestra on 20 nov. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 & Das Lied von der Erde
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 1 sep. 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 3
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Klaus Tennstedt, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Ica Classics on 6 sep. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen & Symphony No. 1
Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Hampson
Symfonieën - Released by London Philharmonic Orchestra on 1 jun. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 - Martinů: Symphony No. 4
Klaus Tennstedt, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
Klassiek - Released by Ica Classics on 4 feb. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 (Digital re-release)
Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Symfonieën - Released by London Philharmonic Orchestra on 1 feb. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms & Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos
Ulf Hoelscher, Klaus Tennstedt, Yehudi Menuhin, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 28 feb. 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 "Eroica" & Coriolan Overture, Op. 62
NDR Sinfonieorchester, Klaus Tennstedt
Klassiek - Released by Profil on 2 jun. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 8 "Symphony of a Thousand"
Symfonische muziek - Released by Warner Classics on 7 aug. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5 - Adagietto
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 1 apr. 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 7 mei 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner: Orchestral Music from 'Ring' & 'Tannhauser'
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 1 jan. 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo