August Klughardt: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 68

August Klughardt

August Klughardt's memorial in Dessau

(November 30, 1847 – August 3, 1902/ 55세) was a German composer and conductor.

Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 68

I. Allegro 0:00
II. Andante (quasi Recitativo) 18:17
III. Adagio cantabile 21:13
IV. Molto moderato 29:03

August Klughardt was born in Köthen, and took his first piano and music theory lessons at the age of 10. Soon, he began to compose his first pieces, which were performed by a music circle Klughardt had founded himself at school. In 1863, his family moved to Dessau. one year later, Klughardt gave his debut as pianist.

After having finished school, he moved to Dresden in 1866. There, he took further lessons and brought his compositions to the public for the first time. one year later, he began to earn his living as a conductor. At first, he worked at the municipal theatre in Posen (Poznań) for one season, then in Neustrelitz for one season, and finally in Lübeck for several months. From 1869 to 1873, he worked at the court theatre in Weimar. There, he met Franz Liszt, which was very important for his creative development. In 1873, he returned to Neustrelitz where he became chief conductor. He was appointed manager in 1880. In 1876, he visited the first Bayreuth Festival.

From 1882 to the end of his life, he was director of music at the court in Dessau. In 1892 and 1893, he conducted Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. He received many distinctions in his last years: he was appointed member of the Berlin Academy of Arts in 1898 and he was made honorary doctor by the University of Erlangen. He was also asked to direct the Singakademie in Berlin, but he rejected this offer. Klughardt died suddenly in Roßlau at the age of 54.