Norbert Nowotny

Norbert Nowotny (19**-). Academic, composer and musical director.

Biography

Norbert Nowotny was born in Austria, and later relocated to South Africa to complete his studies.

Training

He studied Music at the Austrian State Academy for Music in Vienna, where he graduated with Honours in 1961. He came to the Department of Music and Musicology at Rhodes University in 1966 where he completed his PhD in 1969. From the beginning of 1985 he was an Associate Professor. Norbert Nowotny was well-known in the Eastern Cape as violinist, piano accompanist, composer, and director of performances of both classical and popular music. He was not only an expert in contemporary avant garde classical music but shows more than an interest in "light" music. This led to the establishment of the Rhodes University Jazz Ensemble and a course in Jazz and Popular Music.

Career

Nowotny worked for many years at Rhodes University, as associate professor, professor and Head of Department at the Department of Music and Musicology.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

In 1970 he conducted the Society's production of The Desert Song starring Ge Korsten and Nellie du Toit, Gondoliers (1974), Camelot (1975) and sub-leader for The Student Prince (1979).

Nowotny was musical director for several productions, including Fiddler on the Roof at the 1820 Monument Theatre in Grahamstown (1983), The Gondoliers also at the 1820 Monument Theatre in Grahamstown (1984), Festive Psalm (1985) with the Grahamstown Orchestra and a massed choir of more than 500 pupils, The Wizard of Oz (1987 and 1991) and Gigi (1987) (these productions all directed by David Matheson).

For the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society, he was musical director for Oklahoma! (1967), The Desert Song, Annie (1985) which was also staged at the 1820 Monument Theatre in Grahamstown and South Pacific (1973).

For the Dramatic Society of East London, he was musical director for Hello, Dolly! (1988) and Mame (1991).

He was also musical director for several productions at Rhodes University, including Focus (1971), Little Mary Sunshine (1991) and The Good Person of Szechwan (1993).

As composer, he wrote music for Don Maclennan's absurdist “cosmic oratorio”, In Memoriam Oskar Wolberheim (1968).

All the 1983 and 1985 shows were prestige productions together with Renee Rakin and Gordon Mulholland as well as Marilyn Bennett and De Wet van Rooyen. These productions were directed by David Matheson.

Sources

Hello, Dolly! theatre programme, 1988.

Annie theatre programme, January 1986.

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