Burmeister, Richard

1860-

German pianist and composer. Born at Hamburg. Educated in the public schools and at the Academy at Hamburg. From 1881 to 1884 he studied with Liszt at Rome, Budapest and Weimar, following him in his travels. From 1883 to 1885 he made concert tours in Europe and in 1885 came to America as head of the piano department of Peabody Institute, Baltimore, where he stayed for twelve years. During the winter of 1893 he made a concert tour through Europe and in 1897 settled in New York and became director of the Scharwenka Conservatory. In 1903 he was appointed head of the piano department of the Royal Conservatory of Dresden and this position he still holds. Burmeister has also made concert tours all over the United States. His compositions consist of a Concerto in D minor for piano and orchestra; The Chase After Fortune, a symphonic fantasy for orchestra; two Capriccios for piano; a Romance for violin and orchestra; a Ballade for the piano; and The Sisters, a dramatic tone poem for contralto and orchestra. He has also rescored Chopin's F minor concerto and has arranged for piano and orchestra, Liszt's Concerto Bathetique and Mephisto Waltz, and Chopin's Rondo.