Reiss, Karl Heinrich Adolf

1829-

 

German conductor; born at Frankfort-on-Main; studied harmony under Kessler and piano under Rpsenheim in his native town, becoming later a pupil of Hauptmann in Leipsic. His first successful public performance was in concert at fourteen, and his first appointment as chorusmaster was before he was twenty, in the Mayence City Theatre. Up to 1854 he had filled the office of vice-conductor at several different theatres, and in that year was appointed chief director of the one first mentioned; but in 1856 he was chosen second conductor to the Court Theatre at Cassel, where he succeeded Spohr as first conductor on the latter's death. From 1881 to 1886 he was chief conductor at Wiesbaden. He wrote an opera, Otto der Schütz, produced at Mayence in 1856; also wrote songs, and piano-music.