Julius Stockhausen


Julius Christian Stockhausen was a German singer and singer master.

Life

Stockhausen's parents, Franz Stockhausen Sr., harpist and composer, and Margarethe Stockhausen née Schmuck, soprano, were musicians of some ability who recognized his talent and encouraged his development.
Before he had reached his 20th year he was an excellent performer on the piano, organ, violin, and cello. In 1845 he entered the Conservatoire de Paris, where he studied piano with Charles Hallé and Camille-Marie Stamaty and singing with Manuel García. In 1849 he continued his studies with Garcia in London. He quickly won fame as a remarkable concert singer. From 1862 to 1869 he resided in Hamburg as conductor of the Philharmonic Society and Singakademie.
He spent the next five years in Stuttgart as Kammersänger to the King of Württemberg, then he became conductor of Stern's Gesangverein at Berlin, where he remained until 1878, being then called to Hoch Conservatory at Frankfurt as professor of singing. Differences with Joachim Raff, the director, led to his resignation the following year and the establishment of his own school, which immediately became world famous.
After Raff's death, Stockhausen returned to the conservatory, but continued his own school. Students of Stockhausen included Clarence Whitehill, Karl Perron, Anton Sistermans, Max Friedlaender, Jenny Hahn, Johan Messchaert, Hermine Spies, Horatio Connell and Hugo Goldschmidt. He wrote an excellent Gesangsmethode in 1884, which was translated into English by his pupil Sophie Löwe. His brother Franz Stockhausen Jr. was an eminent choral conductor who studied with Ignaz Moscheles. His daughter, Julia Wirth, née Stockhausen, married Joseph, son of the famous German violinist Emanuel Wirth. She was the author of Stockhausen's biography.

Works