Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

June 10, 1901 in Vienna, Austria

Death

:

February 14, 1988 in Palm Springs, CA

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Frederick Loewe was a renowned composer of classical music, best known for his contributions to the world of musical theater. Born on June 10, 1901, in Berlin, Germany, Loewe was the son of Viennese parents, Edmund and Rosa Loewe. His father was a well-known operetta tenor, and his mother was a pianist. Loewe grew up in a musical household and began playing the piano at a young age. In 1924, Loewe moved to the United States and settled in New York City. He began working as a pianist and arranger for various Broadway shows, including the hit musical "The Band Wagon" in 1931. It was during this time that Loewe met lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, with whom he would go on to collaborate on some of his most famous works. Loewe and Lerner's first collaboration was the musical "What's Up?" in 1943, which was not a commercial success. However, their next collaboration, "Brigadoon," which premiered in 1947, was a huge hit. The musical tells the story of two American tourists who stumble upon a mysterious Scottish village that only appears once every hundred years. The show's score, which included songs like "Almost Like Being in Love" and "The Heather on the Hill," was a critical and commercial success. Loewe and Lerner's next collaboration, "Paint Your Wagon," premiered in 1951. The musical, which tells the story of a gold rush in California, was not as successful as their previous works, but it did produce the hit song "They Call the Wind Maria." In 1956, Loewe and Lerner's most famous work, "My Fair Lady," premiered on Broadway. The musical, which is based on George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion," tells the story of a Cockney flower girl named Eliza Doolittle who is transformed into a lady by a phonetics professor named Henry Higgins. The show's score, which included songs like "I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live," and "Get Me to the Church on Time," was a huge success and won several Tony Awards. Loewe and Lerner's next collaboration, "Camelot," premiered in 1960. The musical, which tells the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, was also a success and produced the hit song "If Ever I Would Leave You." After "Camelot," Loewe and Lerner went their separate ways. Loewe continued to work in musical theater, but he never achieved the same level of success as he did with Lerner. He composed the score for the musical "Gigi," which premiered on Broadway in 1973, but it was not as successful as his previous works. Loewe died on February 14, 1988, in Palm Springs, California, at the age of 86. He left behind a legacy of memorable and beloved musicals that continue to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world. In addition to his work in musical theater, Loewe also composed several classical works, including a piano concerto, a string quartet, and a ballet. His classical works are not as well-known as his musical theater works, but they showcase his talent and versatility as a composer. Overall, Frederick Loewe was a talented and influential composer who made a significant contribution to the world of musical theater. His collaborations with Alan Jay Lerner produced some of the most beloved and iconic musicals of all time, and his legacy continues to live on through his music.

More....