Robert Forberg

cover 1873

cover 1908

cover 1898

decorative cover 1906

Pan woodwind series cover ca.1920

History

Robert Forberg was a major publisher of contemporary works from ca.1860 to ca.1930.

The firm was founded by August Robert Forberg (1833-1880) in 1862. He was a relative of Dusseldorf cellist Friedrich Forberg (1815 ca.-1883) and of Leipzig publisher Otto Forberg. With headquarters in Leipzig, Forberg's international fame was achieved largely through its activities as a German agency for foreign music publishers.
One of the most important agencies was that for the Russian publisher P. Jurgenson, despite the latter's close relationship with the Hamburg firm D. Rahter. Forberg was the sole agent for a number of Tchaikovsky works, including the Symphony No.6.

By 1908, the Forberg catalog contained more than 6000 titles. Besides Tchaikovsky, other composers represented included Smetana, Richard Strauss, and Reger. Forberg's Jurgenson agency enabled them to claim the German rights for early Stravinsky titles issued by the Russian publisher after their appropriation by the Soviet regime in 1918. A famous lawsuit resulted, pitting the exiled composer and the publishers Chester and Schott against Forberg, who won the case (ca.1925).

August Robert was succeeded by Robert Max Forberg (1850-1920) then Horst von Roeld (up to ca.1950). The facility in Leipzig was severely damaged by bombing in 1943. After the war, the company relocated to Bonn (1949), moving subsequently to Bad Godesburg (1951-2005). Schott eventually purchased the Stravinsky titles from Forberg in the post-war era.

After the death of the last independent owner in 2005, the firm was absorbed by the giant Universal Music Group under the wing of Ricordi-Munich.

Imprints, Addresses, Agencies

Plate Numbers

Catalogs

• Robert Forberg's Catalog for 1894

Authority control

• VIAF (Rob. Forberg (Firm))