|
Paul Hamburger (1920-2004)
Obituary |
It was with sadness that we learned of
the death of Paul Hamburger, a member of SIUK, in April of this
year. He was aged 83.
|
Paul Hamburger was one of a number of
distinguished refugees who came to this country after the 1938
Anschluss in Austria and made his home here. After an initial period
of internment, he studied with Vaughan Wiliams and Frank Merrick at
the Royal College of Music, was appointed coach and accompanist by
the English Opera Group in 1952, and was a member of the music staff
at Glyndebourne from 1956 to 1962. He joined the BBC as staff
accompanist in 1962 and from 1976 was a music producer on radio 3.
When he left the BBC in 1981 he took up teaching posts at the
Guildhall School and the Royal College of Music.
|
As well as being a much-admired
practical musician, Hamburger was a fine teacher and writer, making
notable contributions to books on Mozart and Mahler. He will be
chiefly remembered, however, for his skills as an accompanist
(working with such singers as Janet Baker, April Cantelo, Geraint
Evans, Bernadette Greevy, Heather Harper, Thomas Hemsley and
Elizabeth Söderstrom) and as chamber music player (partnerships
with the violinists Emanuel Hurwitz and Yfrah Neaman and an
outstanding piano duo with Lisa Fuchsova).
|
| Paul Hamburger was married twice - to
the mezzo-soprano Esther Salaman and to the soprano Clare Walmesley.
His first wife and two children survive him |
|
