He is a violinist and conductor born in Vienna, Austria to a musical family. He started violin studies at the Vienna Conservatory when he was 9 years old and later entered the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts followed by the Salzburg Mozarteum.
When he was 21 years old he became a second violinist with the Vegh Quartet in 1977, assisting in Vegh master classes. Two years later in 1979 he became a soloist and concertmaster with the Concentus Musicus Wien and that same year was a concertmaster and soloist with Cappella Andrea Barca and a co-founder of the Vienna String Sextet, which he remained with until 1984.
In 1980 he became first concertmaster with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and remained with them until 1987, when he became the first violinist of the Quatour Mosaiques.
He has performed as a soloist with numerous ensembles and orchestras that include Camerata Academica Salzburg, Graz Philharmonic, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, La Chapelle Royale (Paris) and Wiener Kammerorchester as just some of many.
In 2001 he became music/artistic director of the Camerata Bern and remained in that position until 2009. That same year he was awarded the Goldener Bogen (golden bow) for his “outstandng achievements in the promotion of string instruments.”
Recordings he has performed on as a violinist and/or conductor are many and include him as a featured artist on Max Reger: Works for Violin, Haydn: Trios Pour Pianoforte, Violon and Violoncelle, Thomas Larcher: Naunz with Patrick Cohen and Christophe Coin and Boccherini/Haydn: La Passione with Ensemble Cordia along with Mozart Contrasts by Camerata Bern, J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nr.1-2-4, Georg Friedrich Handel – Concerti Grossi Op.6 Nr. 1-12 and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Serenata Notturna KV 239/Fagottkonzert B-dur KV 191/Trompetenkonz by Concentus Musicus Wien, Christmas with Placido Domingo by Placido Domingo and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Haydn: Trois Quatuors and Beethoven: The Late Quartets by Quatuor Mosaiques, Mozart: Klarinetten und Hornquintett by the Vienna String Sextet and Beethoven: Septett by the Wiener Kammermusiker and several compilations.
In the field of musical education he has been a chamber music teacher at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts, a guest violin professor at Graz University of Music and Performing Arts and a Professor at the European Chamber Music Academy for string quartet and the summer academy Prag-Wien-Budapest. From 2013 to 2022 he was Professor of Violin at the Leipzig University of Music and Theatre Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.
Placido Domingo recordings
A Medley of Christmas Carols
(Joy to the World, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, O Little town of Bethlehem, The First Noel)
FM 37245 (CD: Christmas with Placido Domingo)
Orchestra – Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Conductor –Lee Holdridge
Sources:
- https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Hobarth-Erich.htm
- https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_H%C3%B6barth
- https://www.aeolus-music.com/ae_en/Artists/Erich-Hoebarth
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/erich-h%C3%B6barth-mn0002178137/biography
- https://www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/en/a/erich-hoebarth
- https://www.naxos.com/Bio/Person/Erich_H%C3%B6barth/154327
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/erich-h%C3%B6barth-mn0002178137/credits
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/965299-Erich-H%C3%B6barth