Eberhard Wangemann, a German violinist born in Leipzig in 1920, has passed away at the age of 104. Wangemann was a distinguished member of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and later the DSO-Berlin, joining the latter in 1955 when it was known as the RIAS Symphonie Orchester.
In a tribute to Wangemann, the DSO remarked, “His decision to move from the Berlin Philharmonic to the then RIAS Symphony Orchestra in October 1955 was a courageous one, as the orchestra’s existence was anything but secure.”
The DSO further stated, “No one has been as committed to today’s DSO for as long and as intensely as Eberhard Wangemann.”
In 1962, Wangemann was elected to the orchestra’s board of directors and later became chairman. He played a crucial role in ensuring the orchestra’s survival by fostering cooperation between public broadcasting and the public sector, a model that still supports the four ensembles of the Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre gGmbH (ROC).
From 1977 until his retirement, Wangemann represented the orchestra as a member of the board of trustees. He was also involved in selecting Riccardo Chailly as chief conductor and Peter Ruzicka as artistic director.
For his dedicated and successful work, Wangemann was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 1984. After retiring at the end of the 1984/1985 season, he was named an honorary member of the DSO and maintained a close relationship with the orchestra.
The DSO noted, “With his enormous knowledge, experience, and precise memory, he was an ideal chronicler; at crucial turning points, he commented on the history of the orchestra, not nostalgically, but always with a focus on the present and future potential of the orchestra. He was as meticulous in doing so as he was in making music. Poor research and negligence were always a nuisance to him. He advised and advised whenever he was asked.”
The statement added that Wangemann regularly attended DSO concerts whenever possible, always seated in Block A, Row 12, in solidarity with “his” orchestra.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Wangemann’s family, friends, and colleagues.
