Erich Bergel Romanian-German conductor and musicologist Date of Birth: 01.06.1930 Country: Romania

1. Erich Bergel: A Romanian-German Maestro
2. Early Life and Education
3. Career in Romania
4. International Breakthrough
5. Conductor and Professor
6. Bach Scholar and Budapest Philharmonic

Erich Bergel: A Romanian-German Maestro

Erich Bergel, a Romanian-German conductor and musicologist, was born into a family of Transylvanian Saxons. His older brother, Hans Bergel, later wrote a biography about him titled "Ein Musikerleben" (2006).

Early Life and Education

At the age of 18, Bergel joined the Hermannstadt Orchestra as a flutist. From 1950 to 1955, he studied conducting, composition, and organ at the Cluj-Napoca Conservatory.

Career in Romania

In the 1960s, Bergel became conductor of the Cluj Philharmonic Orchestra. He also guest-conducted with many leading Romanian orchestras.

International Breakthrough

Bergel's talent caught the attention of Herbert von Karajan, who invited him to Germany as his assistant at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1972 onwards, he led the orchestra on several international tours, including to New Zealand and South Africa.

Conductor and Professor

Simultaneously to his work in Berlin, Bergel also served as director of the North German Philharmonic Orchestra from 1971 to 1974. Additionally, he taught at the Berlin University of the Arts.

Bach Scholar and Budapest Philharmonic

From 1989 to 1994, Bergel was chief conductor of the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. He also authored monographs on Johann Sebastian Bach's "Art of the Fugue" ("Die Kunst der Fuge: ihre geistige Grundlage im Zeichen der thematischen Bipolarität") and his late fugues ("Bachs letzte Fuge").