Maestri 2012
Höbarth, Erich
Erich Höbarth was born in 1956 into a family of Viennese musicians. His father was a cellist, and his mother a violinist, and the violin was chosen for Erich. His teaches in Vienna were Greta Biedermann and Franz Samohyl. He then continued to study in Salzburg with Sándor Végh, who was more than a teacher for him. In 1977 Erich was invited by Sándor Végh to IMS’ Open Chamber Music, which changed his life and made clear his decision to become a musician. Végh asked Erich to join his famous quartet, and he was a member for 3 years. From 1980 to 1987 he was the leader of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Since 1983 he has been leading Concentus Musicus (conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt). He was also a member of the Vienna String Sextet, together with Thomas Riebl – a very successful ensemble which ran from 1980 to 2005. In 1987 the Quartuor Mosaique was formed (playing on gut strings and focusing on the classical quartet repertoire). For the last 5 years, he has been artistic director of the string orchestra “Camerata Bern”. Erich’s teaching experience is focussed mainly on chamber music, which he has taught in Graz and Vienna. A very important and close friend and musical partner is András Schiff, whom he first met in 1977 at IMS Prussia Cove.