Benda, Hans von

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Benda, Hans von

Benda, Hans von, German conductor; b. Strasbourg, Nov. 22, 1888; d. Berlin, Aug. 13, 1972. He was a descendant of the Benda family of Bohemia. He studied at the Stern Cons, in Berlin; also at the Univs. of Berlin and Munich. He was director of music of the Berlin Radio (1926–33); then Intendant of the Berlin Phil. (1934–39); in 1939 he organized the Berlin Chamber Orch., with which he toured throughout Europe, South America, and the Far East. From 1954 to 1958 he served as director of music of Radio Free Berlin.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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