KripS, Josef

KripS, Josef, eminent Austrian conductor, brother of Henry (Joseph) Krips; b. Vienna, April 8, 1902; d. Geneva, Oct. 13, 1974. He studied at the Vienna Academy of Music, and also was a student of Weingartner and Mandyczewski. He was 1^st violinist in the Volksoper orch. in Vienna (1918–21), then became répétiteur and chorus master there, making his conducting debut with Un ballo in maschera (1921). In 1924-25 he conducted opera in Aussig an der Elbe, in 1925-26, in Dortmund, and from 1926 to 1933 he was was Generalmusikdirektor in Karlsruhe. In 1933 he became a conductor at the Vienna State Opera. He also was made a prof, at the Vienna Academy of Music. In 1938 he lost these positions, after the annexation of Austria to Germany. He then conducted in Belgrade (1938–39). In 1945 he rejoined the Vienna State Opera as principal conductor, later that year conducting the first post-war subscription concert of the Vienna Phil., and quickly moving to reestablish the musical life of his native city. In 1947 he appeared with the Vienna State Opera at London’s Covent Garden. After leaving the Vienna State Opera in 1950, he served as principal conductor of the London Sym. Orch. until 1954. In 1953 he made his U.S. debut as a guest conductor with the Buffalo Phil., and subsequently was its music director (1954–63); from 1963 to 1970 he was music director of the San Francisco Sym. Orch. He also was a guest conductor of the major opera houses and orchs. of Europe and the U.S.; he conducted at Chicago’s Lyric Opera (1960, 1964), at Covent Garden (1963; 1971-74), and at N.Y.’s Metropolitan Opera (1966-67; 1969-70). He excelled in works of the Austro-German repertoire, his interpretations being notable for their authority, insight, warmth, and lyricism. Harrietta Krips ed. and publ. his autobiography (Vienna, 1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire