Eberhard Schoener: A Life of Music

The musical career of Eberhard Schoener, born in 1938, began at the age of three. When wandering around a fair he discovered a child's violin he just had to have, which his parents then bought for him. His father hoped his son could become a violin maestro, so he made him practice every day for hours on end. The enthusiasm of a young Eberhard Schoener—pictured here with his parents and sister in a family photo from 1946—was held back.

Schoener later graduated from the Detmold Academy of Music. However, his former teacher and mentor told him in no uncertain terms about his ability to forge a great career as a violinist…

In 1959, Schoener went to Munich. After his tryout he became part of the Bavarian State Opera as its first violinist. According to Schoener, it was a great learning experience.

Schoener played under many of the best conductors of the time, and found himself becoming more and more enamored by the idea of standing behind the desk himself.

…and founded the Youth Symphony Orchestra.

With financial backing, Schoener traveled to the US—to Trumansburg, the company headquarters of Bob Moog—and after some initial difficulties bought a truly unique synthesizer…

One of Schoener's first big projects with his new Moog was a commission by the German government for a composition for the Expo 1970 in Osaka. Schoener modulated a six-four chord—the final chord from Beethoven's 7th Symphony—for 15 minutes. It was an affront to the classical avant-garde under Karl-Heinz Stockhause—completely off-limits!

Schoener continued to go his own way entirely. For the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games he implemented a cultural program and conducted Pucchini opera Gianni Schicchi in the Alte Münze residence. In later years, Schoener conceived the hours-long opening celebrations for two additional large sporting events: the 1978 Alpine Ski World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the 1993 World Championships in Athletics in Stuttgart.

Then in the 1970s Schoener became a revolutionary pioneer in the crossover genre between classical and rock—he saw music as a collective work and not parts of limited possibilities. In 1972, he met Jon Lord, the keyboardist from Deep Purple, and experimented in London with rock band Procol Harum. He then started a total of five classical rock night events in 1980—concerts that each lasted up to six hours and were broadcast live on television. The premiere took place in November 1980 in Circus Krone. Participants included Jon Anderson (Yes), Andy Mackay (Roxy Music), and Mike Batt.

The third edition in December 1982 with Mike Oldfield (left) and Klaus Nomi (second from right) in the Munich Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle became legendary. It was the last public appearance of Nomi, the eccentric countertenor who was visibly weakened and greatly affected by AIDS as he stood on stage. Afterward Nomi flew to the US. On August 6, 1983 he died in New York. Left in background: Peter Behrens, drummer for New German Wave band Trio.

Even today, Schoener still has a close friendship with the world-famous British musicians of The Police—Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland—who he brought to Munich for a show in 1977.

Schoener worked together with major musicians and singers later on as well, like star tenor Andrea Bocelli, for whom Schoener wrote the wonderful song La Luna. Heard here is Andrea Bocelli in a duet with singer Helen Schneider.

Eberhard Schoener still has a presence today. In 2019, for example, he bequeathed his famous Moog IIIp to the Deutsches Museum—exactly 50 years after his noteworthy journey to Trumansburg. Pictured here: Eberhard Schoener and Wolfgang M. Heckl, general director of the Deutsches Museum.