Rietz, (August Wilhelm) Julius (1812-1877)

German composer and conductor. He conducted at Düsseldorf, Leipzig, and Dresden, and edited works by Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Mozart.

He studied first with his father, then studied cello under Bernhard Romberg and others, and composition under Carl Zelter. In 1835 he succeeded Mendelssohn as conductor of the opera at Düsseldorf, and the next year became town music director and conducted the orchestral and choral concerts. In 1847-60 he was conductor of the Vocal Academy and the Gewandhaus orchestra at Leipzig and taught composition at the Conservatory. In 1860 he was appointed conductor of the Royal Opera, director of the church chapel, and of the Conservatory at Dresden.

Works Stage operas Der Corsär, Das Mädchen aus der Fremde, and Georg Neumark; operetta Jery und Bätely (Goethe); incidental music for Shakespeare's Hamlet and As You Like It, Holtei's Lorbeerbaum und Bettelstab, and plays by Goethe, Calderón, Immermann, and others.

Orchestral two symphonies and three overtures; Dithyrambe for male chorus and orchestra.