Jörg Faerber

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Jörg Faerber (18 June 1929 – 13 September 2022) was a German conductor who founded the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn (WKO) in 1960 and led it for more than 40 years. Under his direction, the orchestra grew from a small group to an internationally known ensemble, touring the United States, Japan and South Africa, and recording with famous soloists such as James Galway, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Martha Argerich.

Born in Stuttgart, Faerber finished school there in 1949 and studied music at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart, graduating as Kapellmeister in 1953. He was musical director of Theater Heilbronn from 1954 to 1962, gaining wide experience in conducting, rehearsals, arranging and even piano for operettas. In 1960 he founded the chamber orchestra, initially called Kammerorchester Heilbronn; the first concert took place in January 1961. The name Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn was adopted in 1962. Faerber led the WKO as artistic director and CEO until 2002, and afterward was honored as Conductor Laureate. He also guest-conducted with the BBC and the English Chamber Orchestra and led other European orchestras.

Faerber worked with many top soloists who performed with the WKO and helped the group make more than 500 recordings. In 1986 he was awarded the title Professor. He was married to actress Ursula Münch since 1959 and had a daughter. He spent his retirement in Willich, near his daughter, and died there at the age of 93. Notable recordings include a 1990 release of three CPE Bach flute concertos with James Galway, and a 1994 pairing of Shostakovich’s Piano-Trumpet-String Concerto with Haydn’s Harpsichord Concerto, featuring Martha Argerich.