Back over to the Swiss Radio Archives this week for music of Swiss Romantic composer Othmar Schoeck in a performance of his Festlicher Hymnus. Für Orchester op. 64 (1950) with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra conducted by Erich Schmid – recorded in performance on June 3, 1951.
Othmar Schoeck studied at the Zurich Conservatory under Friedrich Hegar, then later at the Leipzig Conservatory under Max Reger. He thereafter settled in Zurich, where he worked variously as a composer, piano accompanist and conductor. For 27 years he also worked as the Chief Conductor of the City Orchestra of St. Gallen.
In 1916, Schoeck made the acquaintance of Werner Reinhart, a businessman from nearby Winterthur whose love of music was exceeded only by his wealth. Over the ensuing decades, Reinhart provided financial support for numerous Swiss and Central European composers ranging from Igor Stravinsky (whose Soldier’s Tale he funded) to Alban Berg, Arthur Honegger, Ernst Krenek and others. Reinhart also provided assistance to writers including Rainer Maria Rilke. But the artist to whom he gave the most extensive, long-lasting support was Schoeck. Shortly after they met, Reinhart began paying Schoeck a quarterly stipend that was continued by his heirs after his own death in 1951.
Enjoy and come back next week.
