Robert Riefling
Encyclopedia
Robert Dankwart Leo Riefling (17 September 1911 – 1 July 1988) was a Norwegian classical pianist
and pedagogist. He was regarded among Scandinavia's leading pianists, and toured all over the western world. He was a Professor in Copenhagen
from 1967, and in Oslo
from 1973.
as the son of musician Albert Heinrich Theodor Riefling and Ingeborg Louise Rollag. He was a brother of pianist Reimar Riefling
. He was married three times, first from 1944 to 1947 to pianist Amalie Christie
, then from 1949 to Borghild Hammerich
, and from 1988 to Bibbi Lindstrøm. He was a brother-in-law of the military officers Werner Christie
and Johan Christie
.
in 1922, and had his solo debut in 1925. He studied piano in Oslo with Nils Larsen, and from 1928 in Germany with Karl Leimer, Wilhelm Kempff
and Edwin Fischer
. In 1936 he won First Prize at the contest Interskandinavisk konkurranse in Copenhagen. He won 6th Prize at the Concours Ysaye
in Brussels
in 1938. In 1941 he started along with his brother Reimar. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
he was arrested and held at Bredtveit and Grini concentration camp a few months in 1942 and 1943. He was widely known for his interpretation of works by Johann Sebastian Bach
, including The Well-Tempered Clavier
, which he had studied while being imprisoned, and played at concerts in Oslo, Copenhagen and London in 1947. He recored more than 60 albums, including all Beethoven's sonatas, sonatas by Joseph Haydn
and Mozart, and all works by Fartein Valen
. Among his first performances of contemporary compositions are Klaus Egge
's Fantasi i Halling, a piano concert by Harald Sæverud
and Johannes Rivertz' piano suite Spill og dans. In 1967 he was appointed Professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, and a Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music
from its establishment in 1973. He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, Knight of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
, and was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and pedagogist. He was regarded among Scandinavia's leading pianists, and toured all over the western world. He was a Professor in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
from 1967, and in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
from 1973.
Personal life
Riefling was born in AkerAker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
as the son of musician Albert Heinrich Theodor Riefling and Ingeborg Louise Rollag. He was a brother of pianist Reimar Riefling
Reimar Riefling
Reimar Riefling was a Norwegian classical pianist, pedagogist and music critic, a brother of pianist Robert Riefling. He made his concert debut in Dresden in 1922, and toured in Germany and Scandinavia...
. He was married three times, first from 1944 to 1947 to pianist Amalie Christie
Amalie Christie
-Personal life:She was born in Vang, Hedmark as a daughter of professor Werner Hosewinckel Christie. She was a sister of officers Johan and Werner Christie, a grandniece of politician Hans Langsted Christie and Christian Christie, an aunt of Werner Christie and a second cousin of Jacob Christie...
, then from 1949 to Borghild Hammerich
Borghild Hammerich
Borghild Hammerich , born in Bergen, was a Norwegian philanthropist. She was married first to Danish admiral Carl Hammerich and later to musician Robert Riefling. During World War II she organized the Danish humanitarian aid to Norway . She was decorated Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian...
, and from 1988 to Bibbi Lindstrøm. He was a brother-in-law of the military officers Werner Christie
Werner Hosewinckel Christie (officer)
Werner Hosewinckel Christie was a Norwegian air force officer, who reached the rank of major general in the Royal Norwegian Air Force.-Personal life:...
and Johan Christie
Johan Koren Christie (officer)
Johan Koren Christie was a Norwegian engineer and air force officer, who reached the rank of major general in the Royal Norwegian Air Force.-Personal life:...
.
Career
Riefling made his concert debut with the Oslo Philharmonic in KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1922, and had his solo debut in 1925. He studied piano in Oslo with Nils Larsen, and from 1928 in Germany with Karl Leimer, Wilhelm Kempff
Wilhelm Kempff
Wilhelm Walter Friedrich Kempff was a German pianist and composer. Although his repertory included Bach, Liszt, Chopin, Schumann, and Brahms, Kempff was particularly well-known for his interpretations of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, both of whose complete sonatas he also...
and Edwin Fischer
Edwin Fischer
Edwin Fischer was a Swiss classical pianist and conductor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, particularly in the traditional Germanic repertoire of such composers as J. S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert...
. In 1936 he won First Prize at the contest Interskandinavisk konkurranse in Copenhagen. He won 6th Prize at the Concours Ysaye
II Queen Elisabeth Music Competition
The second edition of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition, then known as Eugène Ysaÿe Competition, took place in Brussels from May 15 - 31 1938, and was the inaugural edition of its piano competition...
in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1938. In 1941 he started along with his brother Reimar. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
he was arrested and held at Bredtveit and Grini concentration camp a few months in 1942 and 1943. He was widely known for his interpretation of works by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
, including The Well-Tempered Clavier
The Well-Tempered Clavier
The Well-Tempered Clavier , BWV 846–893, is a collection of solo keyboard music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach...
, which he had studied while being imprisoned, and played at concerts in Oslo, Copenhagen and London in 1947. He recored more than 60 albums, including all Beethoven's sonatas, sonatas by Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
and Mozart, and all works by Fartein Valen
Fartein Valen
Olav Fartein Valen was a Norwegian composer and musical theorist, notable for his work within atonal polyphonic music.-Background:...
. Among his first performances of contemporary compositions are Klaus Egge
Klaus Egge
Klaus Egge was a Norwegian composer and music critic. His music, often called a stream of will, is characterized by polyphony and a strong rhythmical energy.-Music:...
's Fantasi i Halling, a piano concert by Harald Sæverud
Harald Sæverud
Harald Sigurd Johan Sæverud was a Norwegian composer. He is most known for his music to Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt, Rondo Amoroso, and the Ballad of Revolt . Sæverud wrote nine symphonies, and a large number of pieces for solo piano...
and Johannes Rivertz' piano suite Spill og dans. In 1967 he was appointed Professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, and a Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music
Norwegian Academy of Music
The Norwegian Academy of Music is a music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the country's highest level of music education. As a university college, it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate...
from its establishment in 1973. He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, Knight of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
, and was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit.