Günther Theuring

Günther Theuring (28 November 1930 in Paris – 22 March 2016 in Vienna) was an Austrian conductor and choral conductor.

Life

Theuring received his first musical training as a member of the Vienna Boys' Choir. He later studied conducting at what is now the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna — then the Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna — with Ferdinand Grossmann and Hans Swarowsky.

In 1955, Grossmann entrusted him with the direction of the Chamber Choir of the Vienna Music Academy, with which Theuring undertook four tours of the United States under the management of Columbia Artists New York. In 1959 he founded the Wiener Jeunesse-Chor, which under his direction developed into one of the most renowned choirs in Europe and became one of the preferred vocal ensembles of composers including Paul Hindemith and Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein recorded his complete vocal-instrumental works with the Jeunesse-Chor.

In 1975, under Theuring's direction, the Jeunesse-Chor became the first Western European choir to perform choral works of the Second Viennese School in Moscow and Leningrad. In 1971 he founded Ensemble Contraste Wien, a vocal and instrumental ensemble that gained recognition in Europe, particularly for its interpretations of the music of the Second Viennese School. Conductors who studied with him included Nayden Todorov, Marko Hribernik, Avip Priatna, Alejandro Posada, and Federico Sepúlveda.

Honours and awards

Gold Medal of Merit of the Republic of Austria (1970) Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class (1984)