Erik Smith

Erik George Sebastian Smith (25 March 1931 – 4 May 2004) was a German-born British record producer, pianist, and harpsichordist. He gained recognition for producing over 90 opera recordings throughout his career. One of his most notable contributions was the 1991 complete recording of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's compositions, which included previously unheard fragments and was released for the bicentennial of Mozart's death. Born in Rostock, Germany, Smith's Jewish mother brought him and his brother to England in 1936. He studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Smith began his career at Decca, where he worked as a record producer alongside notable figures like John Culshaw and Gordon Parry. In 1958, he produced the first recording of Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes and Mozart's La clemenza di Tito.