Olga Mathilde Agnes von Radecki

Olga Mathilde Agnes von Radecki (23 August 1858 - 2 February 1933) was a Russian composer, conductor, and pianist who studied with Clara Schumann and performed with the Boston Symphony several times.

Radecki was born in Riga (today in Latvia), the eleventh of twelve children born to Mathilde Haarmann and Ottokar Heinrich von Radecki. She studied music in Riga, then in Stuttgart at the Royal Conservatory of Music (today the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart), and in Frankfurt am Main at the Hoch Conservatory, where she joined Mary Wurm in the first composition class the Conservatory opened to women. In addition to Clara Schumann, her teachers included Sigmund Lebert, Dionys Pruckner, Joachim Raff, Julius Ruthardt, and Ludwig Stark. where on November 4, 1882, she debuted as a pianist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by George Henschel. She appeared with the orchestra twice more during that concert season and again in 1886 and 1907.

In 1886, Radecki returned to Europe and gave several concerts in Riga. While there, she received the Mendelssohn Scholarship for performing musicians. In December 1886, Radecki returned to Boston and appeared at Bumstead Hall with the singer Gertrude Franklin. In 1889, Radecki moved back to Riga and worked there for the next few years as a pianist, teacher, and composer, as well as a choirmaster and conductor. In late 1903, she conducted a performance of Haydn's oratorio The Seasons with soloists A. von Fossard (tenor), Georg Stahlberg (bass), and Mrs. Baldur (soprano). She also performed her own compositions in piano recitals, and accompanied Bronislaw Huberman on violin. Radecki returned to Boston in 1906 where she continued to perform on piano recitals and made her final appearance with the Boston Symphony on May 2, 1907. which were published by Arthur P. Schmidt. They included:

Chamber

Piano Trio Sonata in e minor “The Sea Hath Its Pearls” “When Stars Are in the Quiet Skies”