Short bio Werner Egk
Full biography Werner Egk
Werner Egk was a German composer who was born on May 17, 1901, in Auchsesheim, Bavaria, Germany. He was known for his works in opera, ballet, and symphonies, and was considered to be one of the most prominent German composers of the 20th century. Egk was a versatile artist who had talents in the fields of composition, graphic art, and writing.
Egk's music is known for its dramatic and compelling nature, and his compositions often portray historical or legendary figures. He also wrote his own librettos and was considered to have a unique sense of musical drama. Some of his most famous compositions include "Die Zaubergeige" (The Magic Violin) and "Peer Gynt".
Egk's works were often influenced by his contemporaries, particularly Igor Stravinsky, whose freely dissonant orchestral writing had a significant impact on Egk's compositions. Despite his success as a composer, Egk's association with the Nazi regime during the Second World War often overshadowed his musical accomplishments. Egk was appointed the chairman of the Composers Board at the Reichsmusikkammer in 1941 , which led to criticism of his association with the Nazi Party.
Egk died on July 10, 1983, of heart disease in Inning, Bavaria, Germany. Although his association with the Nazi Party and the controversies surrounding his political affiliations have clouded his musical legacy, he is still recognized as one of the most important composers of the 20th century.
Compositions featuring Werner Egk
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Furchtlosigkeit und Wohlwellen (Fearlessness and Goodness), oratorio for tenor, chorus & orchestra | 57:56 min | Choral | 1960 |
| 2 | Der Revisor, opera | 97:10 min | Opera | 1957 |
| 3 | Irische Legende, opera | 112:45 min | Opera | 1955 |
| 4 | La Tentation de Saint Antoine, for alto, string quartet & string orchestra | 23:15 min | Vocal Music | 1945 |
| 5 | Joan von Zarissa, "tanzspiel" (ballet) for narrator, chorus & orchestra | Ballet | 1940 | |
| 6 | Peer Gynt, opera | 112:00 min | Opera | 1938 |
| 7 | Variationen über ein altes Stophenlied (Insert aria for Rossini's il Barbiere di Siviglia composed for Erna Berger in 1937) | 6:10 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 8 | Abraxas, ballet | 75:21 min | Ballet | - |
| 9 | Siebzehn Tage und vier Minuten | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - | |
| 10 | Polonaise, Adagio, and Finale for 4 winds & string quartet | 17:47 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 11 | Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E flat, K. 297b (arranged for 2 wind quartets & double bass, 1982/83) | Symphony | - | |
| 12 | Kleine Symphonie | 25:21 min | Symphony | - |
| 13 | Kleine Abraxas-Suite | Orchestral | - | |
| 14 | French Chorales (3), for chorus | 8:33 min | Choral | - |
| 15 | Französische Suite | 16:32 min | Orchestral | - |
| 16 | Divertissement for 11 winds | 5:54 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 17 | Die Zaubergeige, opera | Opera | - | |
| 18 | Die Verlobung in San Domingo, opera | 98:50 min | Opera | - |
| 19 | Die Nachtigall for string quartet | 14:06 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 20 | Columbus, opera | 92:19 min | Opera | - |
Albums featuring Werner Egk
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Werner Egk – Landeskapelle Eisenach, Mark Mast (2) – Abraxas(CD, ) | 2006 | Oehms Classics |
| 2 |  |
Egk | Blacher | Henze | B.A. Zimmermann | Matthus | Humel | Katzer – Tanztheater 1948-1975(CD, Compilation) | 2004 | RCA Red Seal |
| 3 |  |
Dessau | Egk | Meyer | Goldmann | Schenker | Matthus | Carter – Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin(CD, Compilation) | 2003 | RCA Red Seal |
| 4 |  |
Werner Egk • Chor und Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks – Columbus(2×CD, Album, Remastered, Mono) | 2001 | Orfeo (2) |
| 5 |  |
Egk, Borkh, Klose, Berry, Böhme, Lorenz, Frick, Wiener Philharmoniker, George Szell – Irische Legende(2×CD, Album, Remastered, Mono) | 2001 | Orfeo (2) |
| 6 |  |
Werner Egk - Philharmonisches Orchester Augsburg, Hans Norbert Bihlmaier – Der Revisor | 2001 | Oehms Classics |
| 7 |  |
Werner Egk – Staatsorchester Frankfurt (Oder), Nikos Athinäos – Kleine Symphonie / Triptychon / Ouvertüre / Französische Suite / Tango(CD, ) | 1997 | Signum |
| 8 |  |
Werner Egk, Wolfgang Fortner – Werner Egk · Wolfgang Fortner Dirigieren Eigene Werke(CD, Remastered) | 1996 | Berlin Classics |
| 9 |  |
Werner Egk – Lear • Bence • Wunderlich • Nöcker • Yahia – Die Verlobung In San Domingo(2×CD, Reissue, Remastered, Mono) | 1993 | Orfeo (2) |
| 10 |  |
Frank Martin (3), Werner Egk, Janet Baker, Koeckert-Quartett, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Berliner Philharmoniker – 6 Monologues From "Jedermann"- 3 Excerpts From "Der Sturm" - La Tentation De Saint Antoine | 1990 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 11 |  |
Musik Für Bläserensemble(CD, ) | 1989 | WERGO |
| 12 |  |
Karl Amadeus Hartmann / Werner Egk - Čeněk Pavlík – HARTMANN Concerto funebre, EGK Geigenmusik(LP, Stereo) | 1988 | Panton |
| 13 |  |
La Tentation De Saint Antoine / Die Nachtigall / Polonaise, Adagio Und Finale | 1987 | WERGO |
| 14 |  |
Peer Gynt | 1982 | Orfeo (2) |
| 15 |  |
Werner Egk, Symphonie-Orchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks – La Tentation De Saint Antoine / Die Chinesische Nachtigall / Quattro Canzoni / Geigenmusik(LP, Stereo) | 1981 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 16 |  |
Jules Massenet, Werner Egk, Claude Debussy, Albert Roussel, Sergiu Celibidache – French Suite(LP, Compilation) | 1980 | Varèse Sarabande |
| 17 |  |
Werner Egk, Wolfgang Fortner – Egk - Musik Aus "Die Zaubergeige" "Siebzehn Tage Und Vier Minuten" "Peer Gynt" / Fortner - Zwischenspiele Aus "Bluthochzeit" | 1979 | ETERNA |
| 18 |  |
Hindemith / Blacher / Egk / Kelemen – Cinq Pièces / Konzertstück / Le Rossignol / Cinq Essais(LP) | 1968 | Philips |
| 19 |  |
Das NDR-Sinfonieorchester, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, Richard Wagner, Werner Egk, Ludwig van Beethoven – NDR Promo LP 1966(LP, Promo, Stereo) | 1966 | Norddeutscher Rundfunk |
| 20 |  |
La Tentation De Saint Antoine / Die Chinesische Nachtigall / Geigenmusik | 1966 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 21 |  |
Werner Egk / Hans Werner Henze / Irving Fine – The Louisville Orchestra, Robert Whitney – Suite From Ballet “Abraxas” / Wedding Music From “Undine” / Diversions For Orchestra(LP, Mono) | 1964 | First Edition Records |
| 22 |  |
Werner Egk, Irmgard Seefried – Quattro Canzoni(7", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo) | 1962 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 23 |  |
Gottfried von Einem / Boris Blacher / Werner Egk – Klavierkonzert Op. 20 / Eine Amsel, Dreizehnmal Gesehen / Quattro Canzoni | 1962 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 24 |  |
Werner Egk – Orchestra Of The Bavarian State Opera, Chorus Of The Bavarian State Opera – Die Zaubergeige = The Magic Violin. Scenes From The Opera | 1960 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 25 |  |
Kleine Abraxas-Suite(7", 45 RPM, EP) | 1959 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 26 |  |
Werner Egk - Ferenc Fricsay ; RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Lilian Benningsen ; Koeckert-Quartett – Französische Suite - La Tentation De Saint-Antoine(LP, Mono) | 1957 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 27 |  |
RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Ferenc Fricsay / Werner Egk / K. A. Hartmann – New Directions In Music And Sound Vol. 2 (Contemporary German Music)(LP, Album) | 1957 | Decca |
| 28 |  |
French Suite/ Geigenmusik(LP) | 1951 | Urania Records, Inc. |
| 29 |  |
RIAS Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin, Werner Egk – Kleine Abraxas Suite(Shellac, 12", 78 RPM) | 1951 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 30 |  |
Werner Egk, Das Orchester Der Staatsoper Berlin – Totenklage - Aus Dem Festspiel Der XI. Olympiade 1936 Zu Berlin: "Olympische Jugend". 4. Bild(Shellac, 12") | 1936 | Telefunken |
| 31 |  |
Werner Egk, Karl Höller, Paul Peuerl, Joseph Haas, Richard Strauss, Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Carl Orff – Münchner Musik(10", 33 ⅓ RPM) | - | Landeshauptstadt München |
| 32 |  |
Werner Egk / Jean Françaix – La Tentation De Saint-Antoine / Cinq Poèmes / Invocation À La Volupté / L'Adolescence Clémentine(LP, Mono) | - | L'Oiseau-Lyre |
| 33 |  |
Variations On A Caribbean Theme / Georgica / Moira(LP) | - | Aries Records (7) |
| 34 |  |
Orff / Egk – Catulli Carmina / La Tentation De Saint Antoine(CD, Compilation, Remastered) | - | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 35 |  |
Werner Egk, Ludwig Andersen – Die Zaubergeige (opera film)(DVD, DVD-Video, PAL) | - | Private Sat Recording |
| 36 |  |
Beethoven, Egk, Weber, S. Wagner, Rossini - Westfälisches Sinfonieorchester, Karl Anton Rickenbacher – Live!(LP) | - | TBS Records |
| 37 |  |
Zimmermann / Hartmann / Egk, Hans Maile, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Alexander Sander (2) – Concerto Funèbre (Violinkonzerte - Violin Concertos)(CD, Album) | - | Koch Schwann |
Videos featuring Werner Egk
Werner Egk: Kleine Symphonie (1926)
Werner Egk (1901-1983): Kleine Symphonie (1926) --- Staatsorchester Frankfurt (Oder) diretta da Nikos Athinäos --
I. Moderato tempo giusto
II. Andante molto tranquillo [9:21]
III. Allegro molto [13:44]
IV. Andante [16:30]
-- cover image by Arnold Topp,
Arleen Auger, soprano
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart diretta da Paul Sacher.
Cover image: painting by August Macke.
*
">Werner Egk: Chanson et Romance (1953)
Werner Egk (1901-1983): Chanson et Romance, per soprano e orchestra.
Der Anthologie "La Femme et l'amour" von André Lejard (1953).
Arleen Auger, soprano
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart diretta da Paul Sacher.
Cover image: painting by August Macke.
*
Werner Egk: Abraxas. Faust-Ballett nach Heinrich Heine (Mast, Landeskapelle Eisenach)
Erstes Bild: Der Pakt • 12:20 Zweites Bild: Die Verstrickung • 32:16 Drittes Bild: Pandämonium • 45:10 Viertes Bild: Das Trugbild • 55:30 Fünftes Bild: Die Begleichung
Werner Egk (1901-1983) : Violin Concerto (1928)
Werner Egk (1901-1983) (Germany)
Violin Concerto (1928)
Violinist : Isabelle Faust
Dir : Marek Janowski
1- Allegro risoluto (9.01)
2- Presto (5.13)
3- Andante – Allegro moderato – Allegro – Andante (9.55)
On collectionCB4 we can also listen to We
Werner Egk: Variationen (1937)
Werner Egk (1901-1983): Variationen, über ein altes Wiener Strophenlied (1937)
Ingeborg Hallstein, soprano
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks München diretta da Leopold Hager.
Cover image: painting by Felix Nussbaum.
***
The music publishe
The music published in our channel is exclusively
">Werner Egk: Ouvertüre zur Oper “Die Zaubergeige” (rev. 1954)
Werner Egk (1901-1983): Ouvertüre zur Oper “Die Zaubergeige” (neufassung 1954) --- Staatsorchester Frankfurt (Oder) diretta da Nikos Athinäos
--- cover image by Arnold Topp: "Schwarze Fenster" ---
The music published in our channel is exclusively
II. "Was wollt ihr von uns" (aus dem 5. Bild) [11:14]
Hildegard Hillebrecht, Cathleen
William Cochran, Allen
">Werner Egk: Irische Legende (excerpts) (1955)/ Egk
Werner Egk (1901-1983): Due estratti dall'Opera Irische Legende, su testi di William Butler Yeats (1955).
I. "Einmal im Jahr" (aus dem 1. Bild)
II. "Was wollt ihr von uns" (aus dem 5. Bild) [11:14]
Hildegard Hillebrecht, Cathleen
William Cochran, Allen
Werner Egk: Peer Gynt (1938) Prologo e I° Atto
Werner Egk (1901-1983): Peer Gynt, Opera in un Prologo e 3 Atti tratta dall'omonimo racconto di Henrick Ibsen (1938).
- Prologo
- Atto I° [04:24]
Peer Gynt: Hermann Becht
Solveig: Lilian Sukis
Aase: Astrid Varnay
Ingrid: Marianne Seibel
Mads: Ferry Gru
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Münchner Rundfunkorchester / Werner Egk
">Werner Egk "Die Versuchung des Heiligen Antonius"
Werner EGK (1901-1983)
"Die Versuchung des Heiligen Antonius" (La tentation du Saint Antoine) (1946, Fassung für gemischten Chor und Orchester von 1978)
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Münchner Rundfunkorchester / Werner Egk
Werner Egk: Französische Suite nach Rameau (1949)
Werner Egk (1901-1983): Französische Suite nach Rameau, für grosses Orchester (1949).
Satz I.
Satz II. [05:00]
Satz III. [07:14]
Satz IV. [12:42]
Satz V. [13:53]
SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg diretta da Leopold Stokowski.
Cover image
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