Franz Schreker

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. Conductor of the world-premier of Arnold Schönbergs Gurre-Lieder in Vienna (Musikverein).

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

1917 – Kammersymphonie 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.

1919 – Die 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.

1923 – Zwei 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.

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

1930 – Vier 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.