Gerhard Wimberger

Gerhard Wimberger (30 August 1923 – 12 October 2016) and conductor.

Career Born in Vienna on 30 August 1923, Wimberger studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. His teachers were Cesar Bresgen and Johann Nepomuk David for composition, and Clemens Krauss and Bernhard Paumgartner for conducting.

After World War II, in which he served in the army, he worked as vocal coach at the Vienna Volksoper, then as conductor at the Landestheater in Salzburg, before becoming a teacher for conducting and composition at the Mozarteum. Among his many pupils were Klaus Ager, Sergio Cárdenas, Dieter Lehnhoff, and Gerd Kühr. Wimberger also served as member of the directory of the Salzburg Festival, and as president of the Austrian Composers' Association AKM.

Wimberger died on 12 October 2016 at the age of 93. A memorial concert was held in his honor at the Mozarteum in January 2017.

Scenic works Heinrich und Kleist, Scenes for Music Theatre (2004), chamber opera (2011 ) Wolf Dietrich Prince of Salzburg (1985/87), scenic chronicles Paradou (1981/58), opera after Émile Zola The Golden Shoes (1983), ballet music for television Jedermann (1983), incidental music Rules of Life (1970/73), scenic music Helen the Victim (1967), musical Dame Kobold (1964) Lady Clown (1963/64), musical comedy Hero and Leander (1962/63), dance drama La Battaglia or the Red Feathers, opera Display Story (1952/53)

Concert music Musica Cellisima (2003), cello and orchestra Musica Tranquilla (2000), orchestra Strange Evening Music (1999), chamber orchestra Flows (1997), string sextet Combophony (1995), 7 instruments Premonitions (1994), orchestra Burletta (1993), violin, piano In the Name of Love (1992), tenor, piano Dance Concerto (1991/92), chamber orchestra Vanity in the Life of a Manager (1991/92), voices and orchestra Disegni (1991), piano Three Sonatas for Synthesizer (1990–91) Quintet (1990), classical wind quintet Diary 1942 (1990/91), baritone, chorus, orchestra Concerto for Synthesizer (1989) Vagabondage (1988), big band We Do Not Stop Breathing, mezzo-soprano, piano Night Music Mourning Music Final Music (1987/88), orchestra Fantasy for Eight Players (1982), octet Concertino per Orchestra (1981) Chromatic Variation on a Waltz by Diabelli (1981), piano Second Piano Concerto (1980/81), piano, orchestra Six Love Songs on Baroque Texts (1980), baritone and harpsichord or piano Sonetti in vita e in morte di Madonna Laura (1979), a cappella chorus Projections on Themes of W. A. Mozart (1978), orchestra Programme (1977/78), large orchestra String Quartet (1978/79) Concerto for Twelve Players (1978/79) Contours (1977), piano My Life, My Death (1976), baritone, instruments, and tape Motus (1976), large orchestra Plays (1975), 12 cellos, winds, and percussion Short Stories (1974/75), eleven winds Memento Vivere (1973/74), mezzo-soprano, baritone, 3 speakers, choir, orchestra Mulitiplay – Canonic Reflections (1972/73), 23 players Signum (1969), organ Four Songs (1969), voice and instruments Chronique (1968/69), orchestra Ars Amatoria (1967), cantata for chorus, combo, and chamber orchestra Four Movements on German Folksongs (1966), soprano, 3 instruments, chorus Risonanze (1965/66), three orchestral groups Kästner-Songbook (1962), medium voice, piano Stories (1962), winds and percussion Three Lyrical Chansons (1957), voice and chamber orchestra Wedding Mail Cantata (1957), mixed chorus, harpsichord, and double bass Allegro giocoso (1956), orchestra Agustin Variations-Loga-rhythms (1956), orchestra Figures and Fantasies (1956), orchestra Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra (1955) Divertimento (1954), string orchestra Musica Brevis (1950), orchestra

Literature

Decorations and awards 1967: Austrian State Prize for Music in the field of composition 1979: Austrian Ministry of Education, Science and Culture Prize for Music 1983: Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class 1991: Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria 1992: Honorary Member of the Mozarteum University of Salzburg 1994: Silver Mozart Medal of the International Mozarteum Foundation 1998: Honorary Member of the International Mozarteum Foundation 2003: Ring of Salzburg Gold decoration of Salzburg