Günter Raphael

Günter Raphael was a recognized German composer and the grandson of composer Albert Becker. Born in Berlin, he emerged in the classical music scene when his first symphony was premiered in 1926 by Wilhelm Furtwängler with the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig. He had an academic stint in Leipzig from 1926 to 1934, although his career was hampered by illness and the rise of Fascism, as he was labeled a 'half-Jew'. Despite these challenges, he received the Franz Liszt Award for composition in 1948 and taught students, including Kurt Hessenberg. His compositional oeuvre includes symphonies, concertos, string quartets, and various solo and duet works.