Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1899

Death

:

1968

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Rezsö Seress was a Hungarian composer and pianist, best known for his composition "Gloomy Sunday," which became known as the "Hungarian Suicide Song." Seress was born on November 3, 1889, in Budapest, Hungary. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Seress began playing the piano at a young age and showed great talent, eventually studying at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. Seress's early compositions were influenced by Hungarian folk music and the works of Franz Liszt. He also drew inspiration from the music of Debussy and Ravel, as well as the jazz music that was becoming popular in the 1920s. Seress's first major success came in 1933 with the composition of "Gloomy Sunday," which was originally titled "Vége a világnak" ("The End of the World"). "Gloomy Sunday" was a melancholy ballad that spoke of lost love and the desire for death. The song became an instant hit in Hungary and was soon translated into English and recorded by various artists, including Billie Holiday. However, the song's popularity was short-lived, as it was soon associated with a wave of suicides that occurred in Hungary and other countries. The song was even banned in some places, including the BBC, which refused to play it on the radio. Despite the controversy surrounding "Gloomy Sunday," Seress continued to compose music throughout his life. He wrote several operas, including "The Seventh Door" and "The King of the World," as well as numerous songs and piano pieces. Seress's later works were less melancholy than "Gloomy Sunday," and he experimented with different styles and genres. Seress's life was not without its struggles. He suffered from depression and alcoholism, and his personal relationships were often tumultuous. In 1968, Seress committed suicide by jumping out of a window in his Budapest apartment. He was 78 years old. Despite the tragic end to his life, Seress's music continues to be remembered and celebrated. "Gloomy Sunday" remains a haunting and powerful composition, and Seress's other works showcase his talent and creativity as a composer. Seress's legacy is a reminder of the power of music to evoke emotion and connect people across cultures and generations.

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