Anton von Webern
The composer Anton Webern was born on the 3rd of December 1883 in Vienna. There he studied music science and, together with Alban Berg, was a student of Arnold Schönberg. These three composers formed the so-called “Second Viennese School“, with Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert being counted amongst the First School.
As director of the theatre orchestra Webern worked in Vienna, Taplitz, Danzig and Stettin. From 1918 to 1922 he was involved in Schönberg’s “Group for private musical performances“. Subsequently, until 1934, he was conductor of the Viennese Workers’ Symphony Concerts, and from 1923 also of the Viennese Tradeunion. Furthermore from 1930 he was in charge of New Music at the Austrian Broadcasting Centre.
Due to his artistic, politically opposite view after the rise of nazism, it was no longer possible for him to hold public office. His œuvre includes songs, choral, chamber and orchestral pieces. Webern died on the 15th of September 1945 in Mittersill near Salzburg.