Albert Ferber

Albert Ferber (29 March 1911 – 11 January 1987) was a Swiss pianist who had an international performing career that spanned four decades and took him across the world (and indeed occasionally into other worlds).

Albert Ferber was a classical pianist and teacher. He was born in Lucerne, and studied in Switzerland, Germany and France where his teachers included Karl Leimer, Walter Gieseking and Marguerite Long. Whilst in Switzerland he often played to Sergei Rachmaninoff although he never regarded the latter as a teacher in the conventional sense. He first came to England in 1937, basing himself in London permanently from 1939 where he undertook further study with James Ching.

Although best known as a concert pianist and recording artist, Ferber had a brief association with the theatre and the cinema, conducting theatre orchestras during the 1940s for productions such as The Beggar's Opera. A little later he appeared as pianist in the Brian Hurst film The Mark of Cain (1947) and composed scores for two films, The Hangman Waits (1947) and Death in the Hand (1948), both directed by the Australian, Albert Barr-Smith. After this, his performing activities prevented any further composition until near the end of his life when he wrote a set of six songs to texts by Paul Verlaine.

Alongside his performing work, Ferber had an active teaching career, gaining early experience in Italy where he deputised for his former teacher Karl Leimer. After settling in England, he was employed as piano teacher (and concert manager) at the James Ching Pianoforte School. Later in life he gave many masterclasses in both the UK and Europe for organisations such as the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA), but it is as a private teacher that he is probably best remembered. Robert Finley recalls that his teacher was an advocate of the Alexander Technique and that "he emphasised relaxation … and avoiding the build up of muscular tension and stress". Kathron Sturrock commends Ferber's "gentle and helpful wisdom" which saw her "through many a dark moment", whilst Penelope Thwaites describes him as an "exceptional teacher … interested in drawing out the individuality of his pupils; believing in that individuality and conveying confidence: a rare gift". She also states that he was "much loved by all his pupils".

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