Konrad Scherber
Konrad Scherber was born on 11 February 1886 in Mainz (Germany). There is no information about the musical education of Konrad Scherber and the activities in his early years, but in 1907 he was musical director and kapellmeister at the newly founded Cabaret Fledermaus in Vienna. The artistic directors of this cabaret were Alfred Polgar and Egon Friedell and it became quite popular in its short existence till 1913. But especially in retrospect the Cabaret Fledermaus is legendary: The interior was designed by artists like Gustav Klimt or Oskar Kokoschka, posters or programs were designed by the Wiener Werkstätte and cabaret singers like Marya Delvard performed there. Konrad Scherber was part of this exquisite ensemble until 1910 and beside his work as a kapellmeister also composed the music for one of the most successful shows of the Cabaret Fledermaus: the "sample operetta" Der Petroleumkönig or Donauzauber. This operetta was funny and malicious parody on operettas and critics hailed it as the "execution of a whole genre".
In 1910 Konrad Scherber moved to Berlin and worked as a kapellmeister at the Passage Theater and the Lindencabarett. From 1919 to 1925 he was musical director of the cabarets Bonbonni-Benz and Boccaccio in Munich. Konrad Scherber also worked as piano accompanist for singers like Lina Loos and was himself a concert bass singer. Between 1926 and 1930 Konrad Scherber toured through German-speaking countries and performed own songs.
In the late 1920s Konrad Scherber moved back to Vienna and became music editor at the radio broadcasting station Radio Vienna and also conducted the in-house Funkorchester. Since 1933 he fulfilled the same position at the Bavarian Broadcasting Service BR.
Konrad Scherber died on 12 April 1943 in Nuremberg (Germany).
The work catalogue of the composer Konrad Scherber contains mainly songs, musical comedies and operettas. Most of his works are forgotten now and is only remembered for being the composer of Petroleumkönig. Due to the fact that there is no official work catalogue of Konrad Scherber I compiled a list with information I found in old newspapers and archives:
work catalogue of Konrad Scherber:
- Die Bauernkirchweih, for voice and piano op.175 (1919)
- Das Verhängnis im Hause Meyer, for voice and piano
- So war es und so bleibt es!, musical comedy for voice and piano
- Hexenmeister Amor, musical comedy for voice and piano
- Von Liedern ein Kränzelein, for soli, voices and orchestra
- Liederliche Lieder, for voices and orchestra
- Prelude for the satiric puppet show "König Violon und Prinzessin Klarinette" by August Mahlmann
- Der Petroleumkönig oder Donauzauber, Musteroperette in 4 Bildern
- Wo die Trauben reifen..., operetta
- Die Nachtwandler
- Heilige Nacht, for voice and piano
- Tanzlied, for voice and piano
- Deutscher Abend, for voice and piano
- Sein Brauner, for voice and piano
- Der rote Husar, for voice and piano
- Drei Hauptleute, for voice and flute
- Vision, for oboe, 2 violins, flute, harmonium and bass
Konrad Scherber Archive
In my possession are four autograph manuscripts of compositions by Konrad Scherber:
- Wo die Trauben reifen... - Ein Weinmärchen. Text by Wilhelm Spreen
- Sein Brauner, for voice and piano. Text by Wilhelm Spreen
- Der rote Husar, for voice and piano. Text by Wilhelm Spreen
- Drei Hauptleute, for voice and lute. Text by Wilhelm Spreen
All these manuscripts came from the estate of Wilhelm Spreen (02.08.1880 in Haldem - 12.03.1933 in Berlin), a teacher who wrote poems and libretti that were set to music by several local German composers like Konrad Scherber, but also Paul Weise or Georg Wenzel.
