Henry Krips

Professor Henry Krips was an Austrian-Australian conductor and composer who began his position as Principal Conductor of the South Australian Symphony Orchestra in 1949. He remained in this position for 23 years, earning him the position of record holder for the longest time spent as the principle conductor of the Orchestra.

Henry Krips was born in Vienna in 1912 as Heinrich Josef Krips. He studied at the Vienna Conservatory of music and Vienna University before making his conducting debut at the Burgtheater in 1932. He married Luise Pauline Deutsch in September 1938 and they migrated to Australia, arriving in Sydney in November. In Australia, he formed the Krips-de Vries Opera Company. He also served as musical director for the Kirsova Ballet in Sydney in 1941. For the Kirsova Ballet he wrote the music for Faust (1941) and The Revolution of the Umbrellas (1943).

As well as music for ballets, Henry Krips’ works included film scores for several Australian films. These included Gone to the Dogs (1939), Come up Smiling (1939), Dad Rudd, M.P. (1940) and The Power and the Glory (1941).

In 1944, he conducted the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s Sydney Symphony Orchestra during the opera season with his Krips-de Vries Opera Company.

In 1948, Krips was appointed conductor of the Perth Symphony Orchestra and in 1949 he became resident conductor of the then-named South Australian Symphony Orchestra. The 23 years he spent in this position, with his enthusiasm and energy, raised the orchestra to a very high standard. Krips took nine months of leave in 1953 to study trends in music in Britain and other parts of Europe. During this time he also conducted orchestras in Vienna and London. He took the same time off in 1955 and 1957, and eventually ended up spending part of each year overseas.

Henry Krips is credited to introducing the music of Mahler to Australia and for doing so, was awarded honorary membership of the International Gustav Mahler Society in 1963.

In 1967, Krips spent some time in England as guest conductor with the Sadler’s Wells Opera. While in England, his interest in English music strengthened by talking to a number of English composers and conducting occasional concerts.

Henry Krips was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1970. He received his Professorship in 1967 by the Austrian Government for distinguished services to the art of music.

Henry Krips’ performances of Franz Lehar and Johann Strauss were particularly admired.