Born in Vienna, he studied under composerAnton Bruckner. From 1900, he was first kapellmeister of the Vienna Court Opera (Hofoper). Between 1904 and 1921, he was head of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. In 1918 he became director of the Vienna State Opera (Staatsoper, successor to the Hofoper), but from 1919 shared the directorship with Richard Strauss, with the well-known composer considered "blatantly (though unofficially) the 'greater equal' of the pair" (despite Schalk's recorded renditions of the Beethoven and Schubert 8th Symphonies virtually as distinguished as Strauss' versions of the last three Mozart symphonies, Beethoven's 5th & 7th, and some of the best-known German overtures).[1] Tensions resulting from unclear division of responsibility between the two men eventually led to Strauss's resignation.[1]
Schalk's most famous quote is "Every theatre is an insane asylum, but an opera theatre is the ward for the incurables."
Today, he is best known for his association with Anton Bruckner. He gave the premiere of Bruckner's Symphony No. 5 in 1894, but with numerous cuts and alterations thought by most authorities to have been made without Bruckner's approval. (The composer was too ill to attend the premiere.) Schalk's version of the Fifth Symphony was the one chosen for first publication, and was the only version heard by audiences for almost forty years. While many critics have attacked him for his alterations of the original versions of many of Bruckner's most important symphonies, others credit him for popularizing great works which might otherwise have remained unknown. Present-day conductor Leon Botstein is a prominent advocate of Schalk's versions of Bruckner's music, as was Hans Knappertsbusch.
He died in 1931, aged 68. Some of his work as a conductor has been preserved and is available on CD. Schalk's elder brother Joseph was also a prominent conductor and musician.
References
^ abGilliam, Bryan (1999). The Life of Richard Strauss. Cambridge University Press. p. 112. ISBN0-521-57895-7.
^Bouwman, Frans (2005). "Mahler's Tenth Symphony: Rediscovered Manuscript Pages, Chronology, Influences and 'Performing Versions'". In Barham, Jeremy (ed.). Perspectives on Gustav Mahler. Burlington, VT: Ashgate. p. 459. ISBN0-7546-0709-7.
franz, schalk, 1863, september, 1931, austrian, conductor, from, 1918, 1929, director, vienna, state, opera, post, held, jointly, with, richard, strauss, from, 1919, 1924, later, involved, establishment, salzburg, festival, life, career, editborn, vienna, stud. Franz Schalk 27 May 1863 3 September 1931 was an Austrian conductor From 1918 to 1929 he was director of the Vienna State Opera a post he held jointly with Richard Strauss from 1919 to 1924 He was later involved in the establishment of the Salzburg Festival Franz SchalkLife and career EditBorn in Vienna he studied under composer Anton Bruckner From 1900 he was first kapellmeister of the Vienna Court Opera Hofoper Between 1904 and 1921 he was head of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna In 1918 he became director of the Vienna State Opera Staatsoper successor to the Hofoper but from 1919 shared the directorship with Richard Strauss with the well known composer considered blatantly though unofficially the greater equal of the pair despite Schalk s recorded renditions of the Beethoven and Schubert 8th Symphonies virtually as distinguished as Strauss versions of the last three Mozart symphonies Beethoven s 5th amp 7th and some of the best known German overtures 1 Tensions resulting from unclear division of responsibility between the two men eventually led to Strauss s resignation 1 Schalk s most famous quote is Every theatre is an insane asylum but an opera theatre is the ward for the incurables Today he is best known for his association with Anton Bruckner He gave the premiere of Bruckner s Symphony No 5 in 1894 but with numerous cuts and alterations thought by most authorities to have been made without Bruckner s approval The composer was too ill to attend the premiere Schalk s version of the Fifth Symphony was the one chosen for first publication and was the only version heard by audiences for almost forty years While many critics have attacked him for his alterations of the original versions of many of Bruckner s most important symphonies others credit him for popularizing great works which might otherwise have remained unknown Present day conductor Leon Botstein is a prominent advocate of Schalk s versions of Bruckner s music as was Hans Knappertsbusch Schalk was also involved in the early publication of Mahler s Symphony No 10 2 Schalk gave the premiere of Richard Strauss s opera Die Frau ohne Schatten in 1919 He died in 1931 aged 68 Some of his work as a conductor has been preserved and is available on CD Schalk s elder brother Joseph was also a prominent conductor and musician References Edit a b Gilliam Bryan 1999 The Life of Richard Strauss Cambridge University Press p 112 ISBN 0 521 57895 7 Bouwman Frans 2005 Mahler s Tenth Symphony Rediscovered Manuscript Pages Chronology Influences and Performing Versions In Barham Jeremy ed Perspectives on Gustav Mahler Burlington VT Ashgate p 459 ISBN 0 7546 0709 7 External links EditFranz Schalk at the aeiou Encyclopedia An article about Bruckner written from a pro Schalk viewpoint Available recordings Archived 2020 03 23 at the Wayback Machine This article about an Austrian conductor or bandleader is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Franz Schalk amp oldid 1124536540, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
