Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

Austria

Birth

:

August 25, 1880 in Graz, Austria

Death

:

June 27, 1975 in Berlin, Germany

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Robert Stolz was a prominent Austrian composer and conductor who was born on August 25, 1880, in Graz, Austria. He was the son of a conductor and composer, Jakob Stolz, who was the director of the Graz Opera. Robert Stolz grew up in a musical family and began his musical education at a young age. He studied piano, violin, and composition with his father and later with other prominent musicians. Stolz's musical career began in 1901 when he became the conductor of the Vienna Volksoper. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented conductor and composer, and his works were performed in many of the major cities of Europe. In 1907, he became the conductor of the Theater an der Wien, where he conducted the premieres of several operettas, including Franz Lehár's "The Merry Widow." Stolz's compositions were influenced by the Viennese operetta tradition, and he became known for his catchy melodies and lush orchestrations. He composed over 60 operettas, including "The White Horse Inn," "Spring Parade," and "Two Hearts in Waltz Time." His most famous song, "Im Prater blüh'n wieder die Bäume" ("The Trees in the Prater are Blooming Again"), became an anthem of Vienna and is still performed today. In addition to his operettas, Stolz composed orchestral works, choral music, and film scores. He also conducted many of the major orchestras of Europe, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. He was a prolific composer, and his works were performed and recorded by many of the leading musicians of his time. Stolz's career was interrupted by World War II, and he was forced to flee Austria in 1939 due to his Jewish heritage. He settled in the United States and continued to compose and conduct. He returned to Austria in 1947 and resumed his career, but his music fell out of favor with the rise of modernism in classical music. Despite this, Stolz continued to compose and conduct until his death on June 27, 1975, in West Berlin, Germany. He left behind a legacy of beautiful music that continues to be performed and enjoyed today. His music captures the spirit of Vienna and the golden age of operetta, and his melodies are still beloved by audiences around the world.

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