Erik Werba
Erik Werba (23 May 1918 – 9 April 1992) was an Austrian classical pianist who is especially known as an accompanist of singers. He was also a music critic, conductor, composer, author and academic teacher.[1]
Erik Werba
23 May 1918
9 April 1992 (aged 73)
- Classical pianist
- Academic teacher
- Conductor
- Composer
- Writer
- Music critic
- Mozartgemeinde
- Wiener Musikakademie
- Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst, Graz
Career[edit]
Werba was born in Baden bei Wien,[2] the son of Ludwig Werba (1884–1945), who was born in Graz and became a composer, music director and vice-president of the Österreichisch-ungarischer Musikerverband, founded in 1896. Ludwig Werba died in a bombing raid on 2 April 1945.[3]
Werba completed the Matura at the Baden Gymnasium in 1936. He then studied at both the Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna and the University of Vienna,[4] where he earned a PhD in 1940.[5] He worked as a music critic and teacher, and directed the Mozartgemeinde after World War II. Werba was Kapellmeister at the Stadttheater Baden from 1945 to 1946.[6] As a pianist, he focused on accompanying lieder singers.[7] He collaborated with Irmgard Seefried, Christa Ludwig, Walter Berry, Kim Borg,[8] Brigitte Fassbaender,[7] Peter Schreier[9] and Nicolai Gedda,[10] appearing internationally.[8]
Werba was a professor of lied and oratorio at the Wiener Musikakademie from 1949 to 1990,[1] and from 1964 to 1971 also at the Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Graz. As a journalist, he worked for the newsletters of the Mozartgemeinde, the Wiener Figaro, the Österreichische Musikzeitschrift and the periodical Musikerziehung.[11] As a composer, he wrote incidental music, chamber music and lieder.[1]
Werba died on 9 April 1992 in Hinterbrühl. He is buried at the Maria Enzersdorf cemetery.[1]
Werba composed lieder, including:[12]