description Erich Kleiber Overview
Erich Kleiber (1890-1956) was an Austrian conductor associated especially with opera and the Austro-German orchestral repertory. As music director of the Berlin State Opera, he conducted the 1925 world premiere of Alban Berg's Wozzeck, a landmark of modern opera. He later left Nazi Germany and worked internationally, and he was the father of conductor Carlos Kleiber.
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What was Erich Kleiber's role in the premiere of Wozzeck?
Kleiber championed Alban Berg's difficult opera and conducted its world premiere at the Berlin State Opera. The complete work premiered there on 14 December 1925.
Why did Erich Kleiber leave the Berlin State Opera?
Kleiber resigned in the mid-1930s under pressure from the Nazi regime and in protest against its cultural policies. His advocacy of modern composers, including Berg, conflicted with the regime's restrictions.
Was Erich Kleiber related to Carlos Kleiber?
Yes, Carlos Kleiber was his son and also became an internationally celebrated conductor. Both were strongly associated with the Austro-German repertoire, although their careers and recording legacies developed separately.
Which composers are central to Erich Kleiber's recordings?
His recorded repertory includes major works by Beethoven, Mozart, Richard Strauss, and Wagner. His 1950s recording of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro with the Vienna Philharmonic remains particularly well known.
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