Wallberg, Heinz

Conductor, General Music Director

Born: 16.03.1923 in Herringen (today Hamm, Westphalia)

died: 29.09.2004 in Essen

After studying in Dortmund and Cologne, Wallberg worked as a violinist and solo trumpeter before becoming chief conductor of the Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra and general music director of the Bremen Theater in 1955. In 1961, director Friedrich Schramm engaged him as general music director at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden. He made a significant mark on Wiesbaden's musical life. Occasional disagreements between him and the theater management due to his frequent absences in favor of additional engagements as permanent guest conductor of the Vienna State Opera and director of the Vienna Lower Austrian Tonkünstler Orchestra did not hinder his musical work.

Among many other things, this led to a respectable performance of the "Ring" in Alfred Erich Sistig's production in 1971. In 1975, he took up his post as General Music Director of the City of Essen and Chief Conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra. In 1965, Wallbach was appointed professor by the Austrian Minister of Culture.