A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Esser, Heinrich
ESSER, Heinrich, born at Mannheim 1818, appointed concert-meister 1838, and then musical director in the court-theatre at Mannheim; was for some years conductor of the 'Liedertafel' at Mayence, and in 1847 succeeded O. Nicolai as Capellmeister of the Imperial Opera, Vienna, where he was honoured as an artist and beloved as a man. In November 1869, shortly after becoming art-member of the board of direction of the Opera, he was compelled by ill-health to resign, and retired on a considerable pension to Salzburg, where he died June 3, 1872. The Emperor honoured his memory by granting an annuity to his widow and two young children. Esser's character was elevated, refined, and singularly free from pretension, and his compositions bear the same stamp, especially his melodious and thoughtful 4-part songs for men's voices. As a conductor he was admirable—conscientious, indefatigable, and in thorough sympathy with his orchestra, by whom he was adored. Wagner showed his appreciation by entrusting him with the arrangement of his 'Meistersinger' for the piano. Esser was the first to discern the merit of Hans Richter, whom, while a member of his band, he recommended to Wagner as a copyist and arranger, and who ultimately justified the choice by succeeding Esser at the Opera in May 1875.
As a composer Esser was industrious and successful. His works contain scarcely a commonplace thought, and much earnest feeling, well and naturally expressed. The stage was not his forte, and though three of his operas were produced—'Silas' (Mannheim, 1839), 'Riquiqui' (Aix-la-Chapelle, 43), and 'Die beiden Prinzen' (Munich, 44)—they have not kept the boards. His compositions for the voice are numerous and beautiful—some 40 books of Lieder, 2 of duets, 4 of choruses for men's voices, and 2 for mixed ditto, etc.—and these are still great favourites. His symphonies (Op. 44, 79) and Suites (Op. 70, 75), and orchestral arrangements of Bach's organ works (Passacaglia, Toccata in F), performed by the Philharmonic Society in Vienna, are published by Schott, and a string-quartet (Op. 5) by Simrock.