Nikolaus Harnoncourt
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Nikolaus Harnoncourt Graf de la Fontaine und d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt |
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Harnoncourt in 1980
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| Born |
Johann Nikolaus Graf de la Fontaine und d’Harnoncourt-Unverzagt 6 December 1929 Berlin, Germany |
| Died | 5 March 2016 (aged 86) St Georgen im Attergau, Austria |
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| Organization | Concentus Musicus Wien |
| Known for | Pioneer of historically informed performance |
| Spouse(s) |
Alice Hoffelner (1953-2016; his death) |
| Children | 4 children (including Elisabeth von Magnus) |
| Awards | Erasmus Prize |
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Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Johann Nikolaus Graf (Count) de la Fontaine und d’Harnoncourt-Unverzagt; 6 December 1929 – 5 March 2016) was an Austrian conductor, particularly known for his historically informed performances of music from the Classical era and earlier. Starting out as a classical cellist, he founded his own period instrument ensemble, Concentus Musicus Wien, in the 1950s, and became a pioneer of the Early Music movement. Around 1970, Harnoncourt started to conduct opera and concert performances, soon leading renowned international symphony orchestras, and appearing at leading concert halls, operatic venues and festivals. His repertoire then widened to include composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. In 2001 and 2003, he conducted the Vienna New Year's Concert. Harnoncourt was also the author of several books, mostly on subjects of performance history and musical aesthetics.
Harnoncourt was born Johann Nikolaus Graf de la Fontaine und d’Harnoncourt-Unverzagt in Berlin, Germany. His mother, Ladislaja Gräfin von Meran, Freiin von Brandhoven, was the great-granddaughter of the Habsburg Archduke Johann, the 13th child of the Emperor Leopold II, making him a descendant of various Holy Roman Emperors and other European royalty. His father, Eberhard de la Fontaine Graf d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt, was an engineer working in Berlin who had two children from a previous marriage. Two years after Nikolaus's birth, his brother Philipp was born. The family eventually moved to Graz, where Eberhard had obtained a post in the state government (Landesregierung) of Styria.
Harnoncourt was raised in Graz, Austria, and studied music in Vienna. During his youth, he served in the Hitler Youth under duress, where, as he noted:
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