Of Austrian descent, Erich Fackert studied clarinet, saxophone and singing in Mannheim followed by advanced studies in conducting at the Eastman School of Music, USA. Following master classes with Helmuth Rifling and Roger Norrington he was acccepted as guest student of Daniel Barenboim at the German State Opera, Berlin.

His family comes from a long line of Viennese musicians and as he says. "The music of Vienna is in my veins". He is equally at home conducting opera and operetta and has also distinguished himself in the field of contemporary music. He lives in Melbourne, Australia, and is a frequent traveler to Asia and Europe where he performs as both conductor and soloist. In the year 2000 he gave the Australian premiere of works by Japanese composer Karen Tanaka and in 2001 conducted at London's prestigious Dukes Hall at the Royal Academy of Music.

Erich Fackert made his conducting debut with Melbourne City Opera, in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, in July 2002. His enormous success was such that he was engaged again to conduct La Bohème, three short operas at Chapel off Chapel, plus a tour of regional Victoria as conductor of Tosca, culminating in a fully staged performance at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival.

His operatic repertoire includes operas such as Haensel und Gretel, Il Tabaro, Gianni Schicchi, I Pagliacci, Tosca, Die Fledermaus, La Bohème, A Hand of Bridge, The Obelisk, The Widow of Ephesus, Carmen, Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, La Traviata, and The Merry Widow. His success conducting Haensel und Gretel and Die Fledermaus with the Suedboehmische Kammerphilharmonie Budweis was such that he was invited back to guest conduct at their annual concert series in May 2005. In November 2006 Erich conducted the Australian premiere of Il Corsaro and again conducted this year's Australian premiere of Attila.

In early 2007 Erich released Curtain Up, where he sings Granada, Panis Angelicas, and excerpts from Il Trovatore and The Magic Flute.

Erich Fackert is Principal Conductor with Melbourne City Opera and Musical Director of The Melbourne Rainbow Band. He gave his operatic debut in the role of Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Melbourne City Opera in June 2007 to great acclaim and was Musical Director and soloist in the role of Uldino in the production of Attila at the BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Square.

In July 2008 Erich Fackert will be Musical Director for Melbourne City Opera's production, A Streetcar Named Desire by André Previn .