Günther Weissenborn

German pianist, song accompanist, conductor and music pedagogue (2 June 1911, Coburg — 25 February 2001, Detmold). Günther Weißenborn had a prolific career as a concert accompanist and is well-known as one of the co-creators of Göttinger Symphonie Orchester. He taught at Hochschule für Musik Detmold from 1960 to 1976. Günther Weißenborn was married three times, including mezzo-soprano singer Irmgard Barth (1913—1980). Weißenborn studied organ, piano and conducting at Hochschule Der Künste Berlin, with renowned Paul Hindemith as one of his teachers. Upon graduation, Günther Weissenborn became a Kapellmeister at the Halle Opera House. Between 1942 and 44, he served as the first conductor of the Deutschen Theater Lille in occupied France. After World War II ended, Weißenborn moved to Hanover and subsequently to Hamburg, working at Hamburgische Staatsoper under the direction of Günther Rennert. He became a sought-after and prolific chamber song accompanist, performing with such distinguished vocalists as Erika Köth, Anneliese Rothenberger, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Walther Ludwig and Hermann Prey. In 1950, he took over Fritz Lehmann as a musical director of the Göttingen City Theater's orchestra. After the inaugural season, the Theater was forced to shut down its orchestra and music department for financial reasons. However, Günther Weißenborn diligently worked to ensure the ensemble could regroup and continue existing independently, leading to the formation of Göttinger Symphonie Orchester.