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Hermann Baumann of Germany, one of the leading postwar horn players, passed away on December 29, 2023. He began his career as an orchestral player, but from 1967 he devoted himself to solo work and became active on the world stage. His smooth, superhuman technique and soft tones captivated many.
He was born in 1934 near Hamburg. Raised in a family where his father was a doctor, he studied piano, cello, and choral conducting from an early age. At the age of 20, he suddenly became interested in the horn, which he picked up and went on to the Hamburg University of Music, graduating in two years.
Upon graduation, he joined the Orchestra of Dortmund Theater, and from 1961 was principal of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure, he won the first prize at the Munich International Music Competition(Internationaler Musikwettbewerb der ARD) in 1964.
After starting his solo career in 1967, he was known for his wide repertoire and perfect technique, and was a master of the natural horn as well as the modern horn.
He also participated in many recordings. He left behind some great recordings, including Mozart’s Horn Concertos with Nikolaus Harnoncourt in 1973, and the Mozart and Richard Strauss albums with Simon Rattle. In 1983, he gave the world premiere of Ligeti’s Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano.
In 1993, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and temporarily suspended his performance activities, but his health recovered. In between performances, he taught young musicians at the Folkwang University of Art and Design in Essen for 30 years.
Photo：Philips Classics
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