Bülow, Hans Guido, Freiherr von

Bülow, Hans Guido, Freiherr von

(häns gē`dō frī`hĕr fən bü`lō), 1830–94, German pianist and conductor. After hearing WagnerWagner, Richard
, 1813–83, German composer, b. Leipzig. Life and Work

Wagner was reared in a theatrical family, had a classical education, and began composing at 17.
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's Lohengrin in 1850 at Weimar under LisztLiszt, Franz
, 1811–86, Hungarian composer and pianist. Liszt was a revolutionary figure of romantic music and was acknowledged as the greatest pianist of his time. He made his debut at nine, going thereafter to Vienna to study with Czerny and Salieri.
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's direction, he studied piano with Liszt and later conducted the premieres of several of Wagner's operas. In 1857 he married Liszt's daughter Cosima, who left him in 1869 and later became the wife of Wagner. While retaining his admiration of Wagner's music, Bülow became the most ardent champion of BrahmsBrahms, Johannes
, 1833–97, German composer, b. Hamburg. Brahms ranks among the greatest masters of the romantic period. The son of a musician, he early showed astonishing talent in many directions; he chose as a boy to become a pianist.
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. He framed the aphorism that Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms are the three B's of music. One of the first pianists to be concerned with stylistically proper performances, Bülow made critical editions of the works of many composers. The first of the modern virtuoso conductors, he achieved his greatest distinction as conductor (1880–85) of the ducal orchestra at Meiningen.