Rolf Agop

Rolf Agop ( born June 11, 1908 in Munich, † 15 October 1998 in Hilchenbach ) was a German conductor and university professor.

Life

After his musical studies in Munich began Agops artistic career with an entry as Kapellmeister at the Bavarian State Theatre, a touring theater company. This was followed by three years as conductor and choir director at the Carinthian border country Theater in Klagenfurt. 1941 moved Agop as Music Director of the Lower Silesian Theatre in Jawor, before he was called up for military service. After the war, from 1945 to 1948, Rolf began Agops new beginning as Kapellmeister at the Nuremberg Opera. As a representative of the local, because of its Nazi near suspended for several years GMD Alfons Dressel he had the opportunity to conduct large public concerts, such as the romantic cantata " From German soul " by Hans Pfitzner, Agops former teacher and later his friend.

In 1948 there were the first contacts with the Northwest German Philharmonic in Bad Pyrmont, a soon to be resolution sound body. From 1949 Agop has subsequently also the conducting class of the Northwest German Music Academy in Detmold, first as a lecturer, at the beginning of the 50s as a professor. Many of his students have later also made ​​acclaimed careers, such as Wolfgang Trommer and Peter Rocholl. From 1950 to 1952 Agop finally was the first chief conductor of the newly formed Northwest German Philharmonic, initially based in Bad Pyrmont, later in Herford. He then held for 10 years as music director, the head of the Dortmund Philharmonic at the Opera House in Dortmund next developed a successful journey as a conductor of many internationally renowned symphony orchestras at home and abroad. Throughout his life he conducted in 23 countries.

Its roots struck Rolf Agop finally the winning country in Hilchenbach. From 1962 to 1976 he was head of the winning country band, today's South Westphalian Philharmonic. The impending dissolution of the orchestra could be avoided thanks to the intensive use of Rolf Agop. In gratitude, and as proof of the connectedness of the orchestra with his longtime boss Agop was appointed "Honorary Conductor for Life ."

Rolf Agop wrote a richly illustrated, entertaining to read autobiography entitled " Lex mihi ars ".

"I was born in Munich in 1908 - as an Ottoman subject - although in my veins no drop Turks blood flowing. But my paternal grandfather was born as a full - Armenians from Kutahia in Asia Minor, which still belongs to Turkey today. He, incidentally, was traveling meerschaum dealer and married a Hungarian in Vienna, which is why my father in 1878, as Wiener saw the light of the world. My father married my mother in 1906 in Munich, but still had the Ottoman citizenship. It was not until 1915 I was naturalized along with it, ie from the Turks, I was just as my father turned to the Germans. The Armenian name Agop but it stayed with me. My grandfather was even said Stepan Agopian Kekligian. "