Felix Werder

Felix Werder (born Berlin, Germany 2 February 1922) is an Australian based German composer of classical and electronic music; also a noted critic and educator.The son of a distinguished liturgical composer, he has composed all his life; he has an international reputation and is one of Australia's most performed composers. His published and recorded music includes symphonies, chamber music for all combinations, solo concerti, choral works and operas. [ [http://opera.stanford.edu/composers/W.html Opera Glass] ]

Biography

Werder studied Fine Arts and Architecture in London before arriving in Australia in 1941. He was interned at a camp in Tatura in Australia during World War II. In 1943 he wrote his first symphony. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Werder wrote seven operas which were popularly received. His opera, "Private", was commissioned for television by ABC and was broadcast in 1969. He has also written works for Deutsche Oper Berlin and Opera Australia among others. [ [http://www.amcoz.com.au/composers/composer.asp?id=270 Australia Music profile] ]

Werder lives in Melbourne and his teaching included influential courses in electronic music and sound synthesis. He received the Order of Australia in 1976, the Stamitz Performance Prize (1984), the Australia Council Fellowship (1986), and the Arts Guild of Germany Composition Prize and the Stamitz Prize, in 1988.

He formed the performance ensemble Australia Felix which toured Europe, and included Bruce Clarke. For many years, during the 1960s and 1970s, he wrote music criticism for the Melbourne newspaper "The Age".

Operas

*"Kisses for a Quid" (1961)
*"The General" (1966)
*"Agamemnon" (1967)
*"The Affair" (1969)
*"Private" (1969)
*"The Vicious Square" (1971)
*"The Conversion" (1973)

References

External links

* [http://www.rainerlinz.net/NMA/upclose/Werder.html Outline of a composer seminar given by Felix Werder on 28th August 2004]
* [http://www.amcoz.com.au/composers/composer.asp?id=270 Werder biography 2002]