Hugo David Weisgall (October 13, 1912 – March 11, 1997) was an American composer and conductor,[1] known chiefly for his opera and vocal music compositions.
Hugo Weisgall was born in Ivančice, Moravia (then part of Austria-Hungary, later in his childhood Czechoslovakia) and moved to the United States with his parents in 1920 at the age of eight.[2]
Weisgall came from a family of several generations of cantors, and maintained a lifelong interest in both sacred and secular Jewish music. In 1992 he was commissioned by the Friends of the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary to write a song cycle, Psalm of the Distant Dove, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. Other major works include his most ambitious opera, Athaliah (libretto: Richard Frank Goldman, after Jean Racine), and his often-performed Six Characters in Search of an Author (libretto: Denis Johnston, after Luigi Pirandello).
Hugo Weisgall died at the age of 84 on Long Island, New York.[2]
Major worksedit
Operas
Night (1932, not performed). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: after the play by Sholem Asch
Lilith (1934, not performed). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: after the play by L. Elman
The Tenor (1948–1950). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: Karl Shapiro and Ernst Lert (after the play by Frank Wedekind). World Premiere: February 11, 1952 Baltimore (Peabody Opera Company; conductor: Hugo Weisgall)
The Stronger (1952). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: Richard Henry Hart (after the play Den Starkare by August Strindberg). WP (piano version): August 9, 1952 Westport, Connecticut (White Barn Theatre; Hilltop Opera Company). WP (orchestral version): 1955 New York (Columbia University)
The Gardens of Adonis (1959, revised 1977–1981). Opera in 3 scenes. Libretto: John Olon-Scrymgeour (after the play Venus and Adonis by André Obey, based on the eponymous poem by William Shakespeare). WP: September 12, 1992 Omaha, Nebraska (Witherspoon Concert Hall)
Athaliah (1960–1963). Opera in 2 parts. Libretto: Richard Frank Goldman (after the play Athalie [1691] by Jean Racine). WP: February 17, 1964 New York (concert performance)
Nine Rivers from Jordan (1964–1968). Opera in a prologue and 3 acts. Libretto: Denis Johnston. WP: October 9, 1968 New York (New York City Opera)
Jenny, or The Hundred Nights (1975/76). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: John Hollander (after a [Noh] play by Yukio Mishima). WP: April 22, 1976 (Juilliard School, American Opera Center)
Will You Marry Me? (1989). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: Charles Kondek (after the play A Marriage Has Been Arranged by Alfred Sutro). WP: March 8, 1989 New York (Opera Ensemble of New York)
Esther (1990–1993). Opera in 3 acts. Libretto: Charles Kondek (after the Bible). WP: October 8, 1993 New York (New York City Opera)
Vocal music
A Garden Eastward Cantata for soprano and orchestra
A Song of Celebration for tenor, soprano, chorus and orchestra
Evening Prayer for Peace (Ki el shomrenu) for chorus a cappella
Fancies and Inventions for baritone and 5 instruments
Fortress, Rock of Our Salvation (Moos tzur) for chorus a cappella
Lyrical Interval song-cycle for low voice and piano
Psalm of the Distant Dove Canticle for mezzo-soprano and piano
So Spake Rabbi Akiba (Omar Rabbi Akiba) for chorus a cappella
"Liebeslieder" for Soprano and Piano
Referencesedit
^"DRAM: Hugo Weisgall: Two Operas and Two Song Cycles". www.dramonline.org. 1960. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
^ abPaul Griffiths (March 12, 1997). "Hugo Weisgall, Opera Composer, Dies at 84". The New York Times.
American and Israeli Jews Performing Together in a conference entitled Counter-Harmonies: Jewish Experience in 20th-Century Music.
Interview with Hugo Weisgall by Bruce Duffie, June 6, 1986.
January 01, 1970
hugo, weisgall, hugo, david, weisgall, october, 1912, march, 1997, american, composer, conductor, known, chiefly, opera, vocal, music, compositions, contents, life, career, major, works, references, external, linkslife, career, edit, born, ivančice, moravia, t. Hugo David Weisgall October 13 1912 March 11 1997 was an American composer and conductor 1 known chiefly for his opera and vocal music compositions Hugo Weisgall Contents 1 Life and career 2 Major works 3 References 4 External linksLife and career editHugo Weisgall was born in Ivancice Moravia then part of Austria Hungary later in his childhood Czechoslovakia and moved to the United States with his parents in 1920 at the age of eight 2 Weisgall studied at the Peabody Institute privately with Roger Sessions and at the Curtis Institute of Music with conductor Fritz Reiner and composer Rosario Scalero He later earned a Ph D in German literature at Johns Hopkins University During World War II he was an aide de camp to General George S Patton After the war he became a professor and taught at Queens College the Juilliard School and the Jewish Theological Seminary all in New York City His notable students include composers Dominick Argento Bruce Saylor and the accordionist composer William Schimmel Weisgall came from a family of several generations of cantors and maintained a lifelong interest in both sacred and secular Jewish music In 1992 he was commissioned by the Friends of the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary to write a song cycle Psalm of the Distant Dove commemorating the 500th anniversary of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain Other major works include his most ambitious opera Athaliah libretto Richard Frank Goldman after Jean Racine and his often performed Six Characters in Search of an Author libretto Denis Johnston after Luigi Pirandello Hugo Weisgall died at the age of 84 on Long Island New York 2 Major works editOperas Night 1932 not performed Opera in 1 act Libretto after the play by Sholem Asch Lilith 1934 not performed Opera in 1 act Libretto after the play by L Elman The Tenor 1948 1950 Opera in 1 act Libretto Karl Shapiro and Ernst Lert after the play by Frank Wedekind World Premiere February 11 1952 Baltimore Peabody Opera Company conductor Hugo Weisgall The Stronger 1952 Opera in 1 act Libretto Richard Henry Hart after the play Den Starkare by August Strindberg WP piano version August 9 1952 Westport Connecticut White Barn Theatre Hilltop Opera Company WP orchestral version 1955 New York Columbia University Six Characters in Search of an Author 1953 1956 Opera in 3 acts Libretto Denis Johnston after the play by Luigi Pirandello WP April 26 1959 New York New York City Opera with Beverly Sills Coloratura Purgatory 1958 Opera in 1 act Libretto after the play by William Butler Yeats WP February 17 1961 Washington Library of Congress The Gardens of Adonis 1959 revised 1977 1981 Opera in 3 scenes Libretto John Olon Scrymgeour after the play Venus and Adonis by Andre Obey based on the eponymous poem by William Shakespeare WP September 12 1992 Omaha Nebraska Witherspoon Concert Hall Athaliah 1960 1963 Opera in 2 parts Libretto Richard Frank Goldman after the play Athalie 1691 by Jean Racine WP February 17 1964 New York concert performance Nine Rivers from Jordan 1964 1968 Opera in a prologue and 3 acts Libretto Denis Johnston WP October 9 1968 New York New York City Opera Jenny or The Hundred Nights 1975 76 Opera in 1 act Libretto John Hollander after a Noh play by Yukio Mishima WP April 22 1976 Juilliard School American Opera Center Will You Marry Me 1989 Opera in 1 act Libretto Charles Kondek after the play A Marriage Has Been Arranged by Alfred Sutro WP March 8 1989 New York Opera Ensemble of New York Esther 1990 1993 Opera in 3 acts Libretto Charles Kondek after the Bible WP October 8 1993 New York New York City Opera Vocal music A Garden Eastward Cantata for soprano and orchestra A Song of Celebration for tenor soprano chorus and orchestra Evening Prayer for Peace Ki el shomrenu for chorus a cappella Fancies and Inventions for baritone and 5 instruments Fortress Rock of Our Salvation Moos tzur for chorus a cappella Lyrical Interval song cycle for low voice and piano Psalm of the Distant Dove Canticle for mezzo soprano and piano So Spake Rabbi Akiba Omar Rabbi Akiba for chorus a cappella Liebeslieder for Soprano and PianoReferences edit DRAM Hugo Weisgall Two Operas and Two Song Cycles www dramonline org 1960 Retrieved November 13 2018 a b Paul Griffiths March 12 1997 Hugo Weisgall Opera Composer Dies at 84 The New York Times External links editHugo Weisgall s page at Theodore Presser Company Hugo Weisgall Papers in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Composer information from Theodore Presser Weisgall s publisher Artist page from the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music American and Israeli Jews Performing Together in a conference entitled Counter Harmonies Jewish Experience in 20th Century Music Interview with Hugo Weisgall by Bruce Duffie June 6 1986 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hugo Weisgall amp oldid 1218350612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
