Franz Schreker
23.03.1878—21.03.1934

Future Performances

Scherzo
29.05.2012, Dresden (D)
Intermezzo
07.06.2012, Johannesburg (ZA)
Chamber Symphony
11.06.2012, Frankfurt am Main (D)
Intermezzo
13.06.2012, Gera (D)
Intermezzo
14.06.2012, Gera (D)

News

  • Franz Schreker
    Ingo Metzmacher on the music of Franz Schreker
    Ingo Metzmacher on the music of Franz Schreker
    Ingo Metzmacher talks about the music of Franz Schreker in an interview for the new issue of the Mus [...]

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Franz Schreker - Biography

1878 – 23rd March: born in Monaco, son of Isaak (Ignaz) Schrecker from Miskolcz (Hungary), photographer at the imperial court of the Austrian–Hungarian monarchy, mother Eleonore, née 'von Clossmann aus Dobrowna'.

1888 – 22rd January: his father dies (lung disease), economic plight of the family, move from Linz to Vienna (Döbling).

1892 – Gives lessons in reading, artithmetic, writing; takes violin, piano and organ lessons at the Böhmischen Musikschule. Organist at the Döblinger Pfarrkirche.

1893 – Preparatory class for violin at the Conservatory, from 1897 at the composers’ school of Professor Robert Fuchs.

1895 – Founds the association of the Musikfreunde (Friends of Music) in Döbling.

1895/96 – Member of the Döblinger Männergesangsverein (male choir).

1899 – 4th March: World première of König Tajas Begräbnis for male choir and piano.

1900 – Diploma thesis at the Music Academy: 116th Psalm.

1901 – Private lessons for piano, violin and music theory in Döbling.

1902 – World première (concert performance, with piano) of the first opera Flammen (1901/1902), conductor: Franz Schreker.

1905 – starts to compose Der ferne Klang.

1906/07 – Choral director and conductor at the Wiener Volksoper; founds the Philharmonic Choir Vienna.

1908 – World première of Der Geburtstag der Infantin, ballet pantomime for Grete and Elsa Wiesenthal at the Klimtschen Kunstschau in Vienna. Gets acquainted with Arnold Schönberg.

1909 – 9th November: marriage with Maria Binder, later the major interpreter of Schreker’s female figures.

1910 – first encounter with Alban Berg who produces the piano vocal score of Der ferne Klang. Birth of daughter Ottilie (Haidy Schreker-Bures).

1912 – 18th August: world première of Der ferne Klang (1905/1910) in Frankfurt/Main. Conductor: Ludwig Rottenberg, appointment as professor for composition at the Wiener Musikakademie.

1913 – 15th March: world première of Das Spielwerk und die Prinzessin (1909/1912) in Vienna and Frankfurt/Main.

1914Der ferne Klang in Munich, conductor: Bruno Walter. Birth of his son Immanuel.

1917Kammersymphonie for 23 solo instruments.

1918 – 25th April: world première of Die Gezeichneten (1913/1915) in Frankfurt/Main, Conductor: Ludwig Rottenberg. Die Gezeichneten in Vienna with Maria Jeritza in the leading role. Death of his mother.

1919Die Gezeichneten in Munich. Conductor: Bruno Walter.

1920 – World premiere of Der Schatzgräber (1915/1918) in Frankfurt/Main, Conductor: Ludwig Rottenberg. Appointment as director of the Musikhochschule Berlin.  World première of Das Spielwerk (Adaptation of Das Spielwerk und die Prinzessin) in Munich, Conductor: Bruno Walter.

1923Zwei lyrische Gesänge on poems by Walt Whitman

1924 – 27th March: World première of Irrelohe (1919/1922) in Cologne, Conductor: Otto Klemperer. Failure of negotiations for his return to Vienna.

1928Kleine Suite for chamber orchestra. 10th December: World première of Der singende Teufel (1924/1928) at the Berliner Staatsoper. Conductor: Erich Kleiber.

1930Vier kleine Stücke for big orchestra.

1931/32 – Plans to emigrate into the U.S. fail to materialise because of the world economic crisis.

1932 – 1st July: Under fascist pressure he resigns as director of the Berliner Musikhochschule; takes over the master class at the 'Preussischen Akademie der Künste'; 29th October: World première of Der Schmied von Gent (1929/1932) in the Städtischen Oper Berlin, Conductor: Paul Breisach. Anti–Semitic scandal of the Fascists.

1933 – World première of Christophorus (1925/1929) in Freiburg/Breisgau is put under political pressure; Vorspiel zu einer großen Oper ('Memnon'). 31st December: retirement. Victim of the fascist 'Cleansing' at the Academy.

1934 – 21st March: Franz Schreker dies in Berlin.