Kempen, Paul van

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Kempen, Paul van

Kempen, Paul van, prominent Dutch-born German conductor; b. Zoeterwoude, near Leiden, May 16, 1893; d. Hilversum, Dec. 8, 1955. He studied violin in Amsterdam, then was a violinist in the Concertgebouw Orch. there (1913–15). In 1916 he went to Germany and served as concertmaster with several orchs. before embarking upon a conducting career, becoming music director in Oberhausen in 1932. He also became a naturalized German citizen. From 1934 to 1942 he was chief conductor of the Dresden Phil.; although he was obliged to conduct concerts for the German army, he refused to join the Nazi party. After serving as Generalmusikdirektor in Aachen (1942–43), he returned to the Netherlands. Following World War II, he made guest conducting appearances with the Rotterdam Phil, and the Residentie Orch. in The Hague; was chief conductor of the Radio Phil, in Hilversum (from 1949) and also taught conducting there and at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. He proved himself a discriminating interpreter of the Austro-German repertoire.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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