Tragedy and triumph intertwine around Leo Borchard. He was a man whose life was cut short yet left an enduring mark on Berlin’s musical landscape. Born in Moscow in 1899, Borchard’s journey led him to Berlin. He became a student of Hermann Scherchen. Scherchen was a prominent conductor.
Borchard’s career began as a chorus master. He also worked as a repetiteur at the Städtische Oper. He assisted Otto Klemperer at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. But his passion lay in symphonic music. He conducted various radio orchestras. Then he debuted with the Berliner Philharmoniker in January 1933. He performed works by Haydn, Beethoven, and Brahms.
The collaboration proved successful. Recordings were made with Borchard conducting in November 1933. His concerts were well-received. But his career faced obstacles in the mid-1930s due to “political unreliability”. Borchard remained largely out of the spotlight. He conducted abroad. He joined the resistance group Onkel Emil.
After the war, the Berliner Philharmoniker reached out to Leo Borchard. He was the right man for the moment. Berlin’s authorities entrusted him with the artistic direction of the orchestra pending a final decision. Borchard embraced his responsibilities with zeal. However, his life ended abruptly. In August 1945, he was mistakenly shot by an American soldier. This happened after dinner with British Colonel Thomas RM Creighton. Creighton was a lover of music.
Before his death, Borchard achieved something remarkable. Just three weeks after Germany’s surrender, he led the Berliner Philharmoniker’s first post-war concert. The program held symbolic weight. It began with Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Nazis had banned Mendelssohn’s music. The concert featured Mozart’s Violin Concerto in A Major. It also included Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. This performance offered hope to a city scarred by war.
Leo Borchard’s legacy extends beyond his concerts. He helped rebuild the orchestra after the war. He stood against political oppression. He helped those persecuted by the Nazis. The music school in Steglitz-Zehlendorf bears his name. It serves as a reminder of his artistic talent and his unwavering commitment to humanity. Borchard’s life exemplifies courage. It also shows artistic integrity in the face of adversity.