Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

August 19, 1886 in Strasbourg, France

Death

:

January 14, 1978 in Munich, Germany

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

Genre

:

Opera

 

Robert Heger was a German conductor and composer who was born on August 19, 1886, in Strasbourg, France. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Heger showed an early interest in music and began studying the piano and violin at a young age. He later studied composition and conducting at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. Heger began his career as a conductor in 1911, when he was appointed as the conductor of the Municipal Orchestra in Barmen-Elberfeld. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented conductor and was soon appointed as the conductor of the Berlin State Opera. He held this position from 1924 to 1933 and was known for his interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. In 1933, Heger was dismissed from his position at the Berlin State Opera due to his opposition to the Nazi regime. He then moved to Vienna, where he became the conductor of the Vienna State Opera. He held this position from 1933 to 1938 and was known for his interpretations of the works of Mozart and Beethoven. During World War II, Heger was drafted into the German army and served as a conductor in the army's music corps. After the war, he returned to Vienna and resumed his position as the conductor of the Vienna State Opera. He held this position until 1953 and was known for his interpretations of the works of Richard Strauss and Giuseppe Verdi. Heger also had a successful career as a composer. He composed several operas, including "Der Bettelstudent" and "Der Zigeunerbaron," which were both popular in Germany and Austria. He also composed several orchestral works, including a symphony and a violin concerto. Throughout his career, Heger received several awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1953, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He was also awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art in 1956. Heger's most notable performances include his interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. He was known for his ability to bring out the emotional depth and complexity of these composers' works. His performances of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" and Strauss's "Salome" were particularly acclaimed. Heger's legacy in classical music is significant. He was a talented conductor and composer who made important contributions to the interpretation of the works of Wagner and Strauss. His opposition to the Nazi regime and his commitment to artistic integrity and freedom make him an important figure in the history of classical music.

More....