Ein Leben für die Musik. Caspar Richter 1944 – 2023

The JAM MUSIC LAB Private University and the Friedrich Gulda School of Music Wien mourn the loss of Caspar Richter, who died in Vienna last Thursday at the age of 78.

Casper Richter was a co-founder of the "Orchester der Vereinigte Bühnen Wien" and he was the head of it for over 20 years. As chief conductor, he led the premieres of FREUDIANA, ELISABETH, MOZART!, REBECCA, WAKE UP as well as numerous German-language premieres such as A CHORUS LINE, LES MISÉRABLES, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA or ROMEO & JULIA.

As a conductor he worked for the Vienna State Opera, Volksoper, the Berlin Philharmonic and he was chief conductor of the Opera in Brno.

Richter also devoted himself to contemporary music and conducted works by Boris Blacher, Gottfried von Einem, Hans Werner Henze, Luigi Dallapiccola, Antonio Bibalo and Aribert Reimann. Richter also directed the world premiere of Toshirō Mayuzumi's opera Kinkakuji, as well as modern classics such as Moses and Aron and Wozzeck.

In recent years, Caspar Richter has worked as a master class leader for choir and ensemble conducting at the JAM MUSIC LAB Private University and the Gulda School of Music. With his profound knowledge, skills, his great enthusiasm for music and last but not least his sense of humor, he inspired students and teachers in our houses. Some of us are losing a longtime colleague, companion and friend. It is with deepest sympathy that we extend our condolences to his family.