( b Munich, Jan 29, 1824; d Munich, Jan 14, 1907). German administrator and composer . After studying law, he was briefly a civil servant before becoming a pupil of Moritz Hauptmann in Leipzig (1848–9). Moving back to Munich, he directed the Liedertafel from 1850 and founded and conducted the Oratorienverein in 1854; he was appointed court intendant by Ludwig II in 1864, provisional intendant of the Nationaltheater in 1867, intendant in 1869 and general intendant in 1872. An energetic and practical administrator, he greatly improved the theatre itself (renovating the building in 1869 and installing electric lighting as early as 1882) and the scope and standard of the performances. He took up Wagner’s cause with what seems to have been genuine and independent enthusiasm, and in the face of dictatorial hostility from the composer, who even tried to enforce his suspension upon the king. Die Meistersinger...