German conductor dies RIPnorman lebrecht July 29, 2026Chief conductor of the Göttingen Symphony Orchestra from 1975 to 1989, Volker Schmidt-Gertenbach has died at 84. He was a magnet for top talent in his time, bringing the likes of Claudio Arrau, Alfred Brendel, Martha Argerich, Mstislav Rostropovich and Gidon Kremer to the sleepy university town. He was also a mentor to the pianist Justus Frantz. He was also chief of the radio orchestra in Stavanger, Norway.