Friedrich Cerha

Friedrich Cerha
Cerha in 2006
Born(1926-02-17)17 February 1926
Vienna, Austria
Died14 February 2023(2023-02-14) (aged 96)
Vienna, Austria
Education
Occupations
  • Composer
  • conductor
  • academic teacher
Organizations
Children2
Awards

Friedrich Cerha (German: [ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈt͜sɛʁha]; 17 February 1926 – 14 February 2023) was an Austrian composer, conductor, and academic teacher. His ensemble die reihe in Vienna was instrumental in spreading contemporary music in Austria. Cerha composed three literary operas, beginning with Baal, based on Brecht's play, which was premiered at the Salzburg Festival in 1981. He is best known for completing Alban Berg's opera Lulu by orchestrating its unfinished third act, which premiered in Paris in 1979.