Born in Altona, June 23, 1824
Died in Leipzig, March 10, 1910
- Carl Reinecke (pronunciation) was a respected composer, conductor, educator, pianist, and violinist whose legacy lies most heavily in his leadership of the Leipzig Conservatory.
- As a composer, Reinecke is best known for his piano music. Stylistically, he leaned similarly to Robert Schumann.
- In addition to piano works, Reinecke also wrote chamber music, opera and other vocal music, and pieces for orchestra.
- In 1897, Reinecke became director of the Leipzig Conservatory. Under his leadership, the institution rose to significant prominence, becoming one of the most sought-after in Europe.
- His students included Edvard Grieg, Christian Sinding, Leoš Janáček, Isaac Albéniz, Johan Svendsen, Max Bruch, and many others.1
- Fun fact – Reinecke is the earliest-born musician ever to have made a recording of any kind.
- Additional fun fact – While conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, Reinecke conducted the premiere of the full version of Brahms’s German Requiem in 1869.2
- Historical context: Reinecke was a contemporary of Johannes Brahms, Anton Bruckner, Clara Schumann, Joseph Joachim, Jacques Offenbach, and many others.
Learn More
Biography from Hyperion Records
Sources
- Reinhold Sietz, “Reinecke, Carl,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed August 18, 2023, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000023128.
- Jeremy Nicholas, “Carl Reinecke,” Hyperion Records (2023), accessed August 18, 2023, https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/c.asp?c=C7359.