Ritter, Alexander

1833-1896

 

A Russian violinist and composer; born at Narva; was conductor successively at Meiningen, Weimar, Stettin, and Wurzburg. In the last mentioned place he established a music store. Two operas of his, Der faule Hans, and Wern die Krone, were produced at Weimar and Munich with moderate success, the Weimar performance being conducted by Richard Strauss. He was a man of radical tendencies and intellectual breadth, and perhaps changed the entire career of Strauss, " transforming him from a strict adherent of form into the freest of modern musical tone-poets." Ritter also composed a number of songs and several orchestral works, including a symphonic waltz, Olaf's Hochzeitsreigen, and two fantasias, the Seraphische, and Sursum corda.