Pfitzner, Hans Erich

1869-

German conductor, composer and teacher; born at Moscow. His father was violinist and conductor at the Stadttheatre in Frankfort, and from him he had his first instruction. Studied under Kwast in piano and Iwan Knorr in composition at the Frankfort Royal Conservatory and taught piano and theory at the Coblentz Conservatory. In 1894 he went to Mayence to conduct the theatre there, and brought out his musicdrama, Der Arme Heinrich, with great success. Later he was third musical director at Mannheim, and in 1897 became a member of the faculty of Stern Conservatory in Berlin, also conducting the Theater des Westens. He has recently been elected director of the Strasburg Conservatory. As a composer he is known for his successful operas, the one already mentioned, and Die Rose vom Liebesgarten (The Rose from Love's Garden). He has also written incidental music to Ibsen's Fest auf Solhaug; a sonata for cello and piano; the ballads, Herr Oluf, and Die Heinzelmannchen; overture to Marchspiel Christ-Elflein; a piano-trio, and other chamber compositions; some thirty songs, and other works, a number of which are still in manuscript.