Rudolf Kempe

German conductor (* 14 June 1910 in the vicinity of Dresden, German Empire; † 12 May 1976 in Zürich, Switzerland). Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich chief conductor (1965–1972).
First oboist of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig at the age of 19. In 1933 he was appointed Korrepetitor at the, delivering his conductor debut three years later. Following his military service he was the main conductor of the. From 1948 he was with the Weimar Nationaltheater, and from 1949 to 1952 with the Dresdener Staatsoper. From 1952 to 1954 we worked for the and debuted at the with this ensemble in 1954. He led on the annual 'Ring' performances at the from 1960 to 1963. Sir Thomas Beecham himself appointed him to his successor at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra where he started working in 1975, though at the same time he was musical director with Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Münchner Philharmoniker. In 1975 he was also appointed chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.