Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

June 7, 1911 in Nuremberg, Germany

Death

:

October 15, 1968

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Film

 

 

Keyboard

 

Franz Reizenstein was a German-born British composer and pianist who lived from June 7, 1911, to October 15, 1968. He was born in Nuremberg, Germany, to a Jewish family, and his father was a successful businessman. Reizenstein showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. He received his first formal music lessons from his mother, who was a pianist, and later studied with the composer Walter Courvoisier. In 1923, Reizenstein's family moved to Berlin, where he continued his music studies with the pianist and composer Leonid Kreutzer. He also studied composition with the composer Paul Hindemith at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. In 1933, Reizenstein's family fled Germany due to the rise of the Nazi party, and they settled in England. In England, Reizenstein continued his music studies at the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Ralph Vaughan Williams and piano with Arthur Benjamin. He also studied conducting with Sir Adrian Boult. In 1936, Reizenstein won the prestigious Cobbett Prize for his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the London String Quartet. Reizenstein's early compositions were influenced by the music of Hindemith and Stravinsky, but he later developed his own unique style, which combined elements of tonality and atonality. His music was characterized by its rhythmic vitality, harmonic complexity, and emotional intensity. One of Reizenstein's most significant works is his Piano Concerto No. 2, which he composed in 1951. The concerto is a virtuosic tour de force for the soloist, and it features a richly orchestrated score that showcases Reizenstein's mastery of orchestration. The concerto was premiered by the pianist Cyril Smith and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent. Another notable work by Reizenstein is his Symphony No. 3, which he composed in 1960. The symphony is a powerful and emotionally charged work that reflects Reizenstein's personal struggles with depression and anxiety. The symphony was premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rudolf Schwarz. Reizenstein also composed a number of chamber works, including several string quartets, a piano trio, and a sonata for violin and piano. His chamber music is characterized by its intricate counterpoint, complex harmonies, and expressive melodies. In addition to his work as a composer, Reizenstein was also a respected pianist and conductor. He performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, and he conducted many of his own works as well as those of other composers. Despite his many accomplishments, Reizenstein's music fell out of favor in the years following his death. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in his music, and his works are once again being performed and recorded. In conclusion, Franz Reizenstein was a talented and innovative composer who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His music is characterized by its rhythmic vitality, harmonic complexity, and emotional intensity, and his works continue to be admired and performed by musicians and audiences around the world.

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