Among the many musical societies of the city the oldest and most noted is the Euterpe, whose concerts have been led by many able conductors, and in whose programs have been famous renderings of many new and 'advanced' works. Among the conductors are these names:—about 1840 Jean Verhulst (d. 1891); in the '50's, August Ferdinand Riccius (d. 1886), Hermann Langer (d. 1889) and Julius von Bernuth (d. 1902); in the '60's, Hans van Bronsart, Adolf Blassmann (d. 1891) and Robert Heckmann (d. 1891), with Jadassohn as assistant; in the '70's, Alfred Volkland, Johann Svendsen and Wilhelm Treiber (d. 1899); and in 1881-6 Paul Klengel.
The Riedel-Verein was founded in 1854 by Karl Riedel (d. 1888), who remained the conductor till his death, being succeeded by Hermann Kretzschmar (till 1897), and he in turn by Jean Louis Nicodé and then by Karl Georg Göhler.
In the long line of conductors at the theatre or the opera may be mentioned in 1800-10 Christian Schulz (d. 1827); in 1810-21 Friedrich Schneider (d. 1853); in 1826-31 Marschner (d. 1861); in 1844-5 Lortzing (d. 1851) and Joseph Netzer (d. 1864); in 1847-54 Julius Rietz (d. 1877); in 1854-64 A. F. Riccius (d. 1886); etc.
Among the Leipsic organists to achieve reputation were, at the Thomaskirche, from 1801 Johann Georg Hermann Voigt (d. 1811), from 1812 Friedrich Schneider (d. 1853), in 1814-22 F. W. Riem (d. 1857), from 1827 C. A. Pohlenz (d. 1843), [from 1843 apparently Hauptmann (d. 1868),] from 1869 Louis Papier (d. 1878), from 1878 Wilhelm Rust (d. 1892); at the Petrikirche and Nikolaikirche, in 1825-56 K. F. Becker (d. 1877), from 1851 E. F. Richter (d. 1879); at the latter alone, in 1868-99 Robert Papperitz (d. 1903); and at the Johanniskirche, from 1878 Robert Schaab (d. 1887)—besides the virtuoso Christian Fink, living here in 1853-60. Among the pianists and piano-teachers the more distinguished were until 1840 Friedrich Wieck (d. 1873); until 1844 his daughter Clara Schumann (d. 1896); from 1831 Julius Knorr (d. 1861); from about 1835 Heinrich Encke (d. 1859); from 1846 J. C. Lobe (d. 1881); from 1852 Jadassohn (after 1871 in the conservatory); from 1867 Heinrich Wohlfahrt (d. 1883); from about 1870 Moritz Vogel; in 1872-85 Heinrich von Herzogenberg (d. 1900); and from 1872 Alexander Winterberger. A noted vocal teacher and organizer of choral societies from 1820 was Karl Zöllner (d. 1860), who in 1833 started the Zöllner-Verein, which after his death grew into the extensive Zöllnerbund.
Of those best known as composers, besides many in the above lists, it may be added that here in 1827-33 Wagner came to the first consciousness of his mission; that here in 1833-44 Lortzing made his first operatic ventures, though with but slight success; that here from 1842 worked the original Hermann Hirschbach (d. 1888), from about 1850 the gifted Englishman Pierson (d. 1873), from 1859 the opera-writer Franz von Holstein (d. 1878), from about 1865 the popular writer of dramatic works Victor Nessler (d. 1890), and in 1875-83 the piano-composer Kirchner (d. 1903), a student under Mendelssohn and Schumann over 30 years before.
