Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

Austria

Birth

:

August 23, 1900 in Vienna, Austria

Death

:

December 23, 1991 in Palm Springs, CA

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Ernst Krenek was a prominent Austrian-American composer of the 20th century. He was born on August 23, 1900, in Vienna, Austria, to a family of musicians. His father was a pianist and his mother was a singer. Krenek showed an early interest in music and began composing at the age of 11. Krenek studied music at the Vienna Conservatory and later at the University of Vienna. He was influenced by the music of Arnold Schoenberg and became a member of the Second Viennese School. Krenek's early works were atonal and experimental, but he later moved towards a more tonal style. In 1922, Krenek's opera "Orpheus und Eurydike" premiered in Vienna. The opera was a success and established Krenek as a rising star in the world of classical music. He went on to compose several more operas, including "Jonny spielt auf" (1926), which became one of the most popular operas of the 1920s. Krenek's music was often controversial and he was criticized by some for his use of atonality and experimentation. However, he continued to push the boundaries of classical music and was a pioneer in the development of new musical forms. In 1933, Krenek left Austria and moved to the United States to escape the rise of Nazism. He settled in California and became a professor of music at Vassar College. During his time in the United States, Krenek continued to compose and his music became more tonal and accessible. One of Krenek's most famous works is his opera "Karl V" (1938), which tells the story of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The opera was a critical success and established Krenek as one of the leading composers of his time. In addition to his operas, Krenek composed several symphonies, chamber music, and vocal works. His music was often influenced by his political and social views, and he was a vocal critic of fascism and totalitarianism. After World War II, Krenek returned to Europe and settled in Switzerland. He continued to compose and his music became more experimental and avant-garde. In the 1960s, he began to incorporate electronic music into his compositions. Krenek died on December 22, 1991, in Palm Springs, California. He left behind a legacy of innovative and groundbreaking music that continues to influence composers today.

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