Background
He was born in Vienna in 1861 as Robert Spitzer.
composer conductor music educator
He was born in Vienna in 1861 as Robert Spitzer.
He apparently returned to his birth name in 1920) He studied music at the Vienna Conservatory, under Julius Epstein (Gustav Mahler"s teacher), Franz Krenn (teacher of Mahler and Leoš Janáček) and Anton Bruckner, then worked as a theatre conductor (Kapellmeister) and pianist.
His notable students included Kurt Adler, Hans Gál, Clara Haskil, Rudolf Serkin and George Szell. From 1885 to 1891 he edited the journal Neue Musikalische Rundschau. He also wrote music criticism for newspapers such as the Wiener Sonn-University
Montags-Zeitung and Illustriertes Wiener Extrablatt.
He taught at the Neues Wiener Konservatorium (New Vienna Conservatory), and in 1909 for a short time became its director One of his students there was the 15-year-old Hans Gál, who gained his music-teaching certificate in 1909.
lieutenant was through Robert that Gál found his ideal mentor Eusebius Mandyczewski. The conductor George Szell"s first study was the piano, under Richard Robert.
Szell"s first wife Olga Band was a fellow student of Robert"son
Szell wrote a testimonial for Richard Robert"s 60th birthday, stressing his kindness, integrity, modesty and readiness to help, aside from his musical skills. Rudolf Serkin started his studies with Richard Robert in 1912, when he was aged 9. This came about when he auditioned in Pilsen for Alfred Grünfeld, who was so impressed that he recommended Serkin study with Robert in Vienna.
Serkin made his debut with the Vienna Symphony at age 12, playing the Mendelssohn G minor Concerto, but his family refused invitations for him to tour, in favour of continuing his studies with Robert.
He had at least one more lesson with Robert long after he had become an established concert pianist. The conductor Kurt Adler was initially a piano student of Robert"s, and he dedicated his book The Art of Accompanying and Coaching to all the great musical influences of his life, including Professor Richard Robert.
His assistants included Anka Bernstein-Landau and his former student Vally Weigl. Richard Robert also composed himself.
He became president of the Wiener Tonkünstler-Verein (Vienna Composers" Association).
Richard Robert died in Kaltenleutgeben in 1924, aged 62. During the Nazi regime, Rudolf Serkin helped many people escape deportation by the Nazis. These included Robert"s widow Laura Robert, but she died in Vienna before she could be brought to safety in the United States.
Kurt Adler
Theo Buchwald
Julius Chajes
Hans Gál
Wilhelm Grosz (aka Hugh Williams)
Clara Haskil
Marjan Rawicz
Alfred Rosé
Marcel Rubin
Rudolf Schwarz
Rudolf Serkin
George Szell
Frederic Waldmann
Vally Weigl
Viktor Zuckerkandl.