Alban Berg Quartett Founding Violist Hatto Beyerle has Died, Aged 90

Beyerle played in the renowned string quartet for 11 years and taught many of today’s leading chamber groups

Born in 1933 in Frankfurt, Germany, Hatto Beyerle studied viola with Ulrich Koch at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, violin with Ricardo Odnoposoff in Vienna, composition with Alfred Uhl, and conducting with Hans Swarowsky. 

Ten years after co-founding the Wiener Solisten chamber orchestra, Beyerle created the Alban Berg Quartett in 1970 with violinist Günter Pichler, and played with the group until 1981. 

The string quartet ultimately performed internationally for almost 40 years and recorded numerous award-winning albums before performing together for the last time in 2008. 

Alongside his role in the quartet, Beyerle was a viola and chamber music professor at the Vienna University for Music and the Performing Arts between 1964 and 1987. 

He also held teaching roles at the University for Music and Drama in Hanover, Basel’s University for Music, Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, and Académie musicale de Villecroze. 

Among his mentees included Veronika Hagen and the Hagen Quartet, the Leipzig Quartet, the Jean Paul Trio, Boulanger Trio, and Meta4.

As a conductor, he directed Vienna’s Konzertvereinigung from 1985 to 1998. He was also the artistic director of the European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA).

“Today the founder of ECMA, our beloved and admired Hatto Beyerle, great artist, teacher, encourager, mentor, friend and guide for numberless musicians through the infinite wonders of (chamber) music has left us,” the organization posted on Facebook. “We will continue in his spirit and keep everything he has initiated alive and thriving!”

“Of our many chamber music teachers, Hatto was one of my trio's influential pedagogues between 2015 and 2019. He taught us some things about music which helped forge the foundation of our musical understanding — and he did the same for countless other young groups,” wrote violinist and VC Artist Suyeon Kang on Facebook. “[I am] grateful for all you shared with us, and with so many others during your long and very fruitful teaching career: rest in peace Hatto and thank you.

Our condolences to Mr. Beyerle’s family, friends, students, and colleagues.