Gustav Classens (12 October 1894 – 18 June 1977) was a German conductor who shaped musical life in Bonn.
During the following years, he often stepped in for Generalmusikdirektor (GMD) Max Anton (1877–1939) who had to retire early due to ill health.
[1] He had to compromise with the Nazi regime, such as conducting in 1934 the premiere of Deutsches Heldenrequiem, dedicated to Hitler by its composer Gottfried Müller (1914–1993).
However, he held a high level of quality, performing in his first season in 1933/34 the oratorio Elisabeth by Joseph Haas, followed by Bach's St John Passion, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Choral Fantasy, Hans Pfitzner's Violin Concerto and Ein Heldenleben by Richard Strauss.
[1] The following season, he conducted Bach's St Matthew Passion, Handel's Samson, Haydn's Die Jahreszeiten, Beethoven's Missa solemnis and Ninth Symphony, Bruckner's Ninth Symphony, and an evening dedicated to Max Reger with two Bonn premieres.
Classens conducted Handel's oratorios Judas Maccabäus and Messiah, Haydn's Die Jahreszeiten, and Ein deutsches Requiem by Brahms.
He also performed Dvořák's Stabat mater and Requiem, Hermann Suter's Le Laudi which was almost forgotten, and Kodály's Psalmus Hungaricus.