About Jean Kurt Forest
Lived 1909 – 1975 (aged 65). Jean Kurt Forest was a German composer and kapellmeister.
Jean Kurt Forest (2 April 19093 March 1975) was a German violinist and violist, Kapellmeister and composer. He began his career as concertmaster in film orchestras conducted by Paul Dessau, then played principal viola in Frankfurt and Hamburg. Drafted to the Wehrmacht in 1942, he defected to the Red Army in 1945 and remained a prisoner of war until 1948. Back in East Berlin, he shaped musical life in the GDR in several positions, before he focused on composition from 1954, composing political songs and operas raising social awareness.
Life Born Jean Kurt Forst
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Jean Kurt Forest?
German composer (1909-1975)
When was Jean Kurt Forest born?
Jean Kurt Forest was born on 2 April 1909 in Darmstadt.
When did Jean Kurt Forest die?
Jean Kurt Forest died on 2 March 1975 in Berlin.
What was Jean Kurt Forest's occupation?
Jean Kurt Forest was a composer and kapellmeister.
What nationality was Jean Kurt Forest?
Jean Kurt Forest was German.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jean Kurt Forest. https://biography.guide/jean-kurt-forest/
MLA: "Jean Kurt Forest." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jean-kurt-forest/.
Chicago: "Jean Kurt Forest." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jean-kurt-forest/.
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