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Maximilian Steiner

Maximilian Steiner (27 August 1830 – 29 May 1880) was an Austrian actor and theater director and manager. He is known particularly for his leadership of Vienna's Theater an der Wien from 1869 to 1880, a period during which the theater reduced the importance of folk plays (dialect drama) and was prominent in developing and promoting the fashion of a Viennese style of operetta.[1]

Steiner in 1875
Cartoon of Maximilian Steiner (bottom left) with his boss Friedrich Strampfer (top). By Karel Klíč, 1869.

Life and career edit

Steiner was born in Ofen, near Budapest in Hungary, then a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In the early 1850s, he began work in the stage crew of the theatre in Temeswar (now in Romania). In 1854,[2] he was engaged by the theater director Friedrich Strampfer as an actor in the German-language theater. He continued to act in that theater and others in the region till 1862, gaining both acting and directing experience,[3] when he followed Strampfer to Vienna, where Steiner became secretary (an executive role) in the Theater an der Wien. Strampfer gave him considerable leeway to develop his own career, and in August 1869 Steiner became manager after Strampfer stepped down. Till 1875 Steiner was co-manager with the actress and singer Marie Geistinger; together, they "set a tone for the repertoire that lasted until the end of the century,"[4] despite criticism from the conservative press.[5] When Geistinger left for Berlin, Steiner led the theater on his own, with help from his sons Franz and Gabor, till his death in 1880. Steiner's business acuity helped the Theater stay open after the stock market crash in 1873,[6] but he did lose control for several months in 1877 due to another set of financial difficulties; he gained control again later in the same year with the help of friends and other backers.[7]

Although he and Geistinger came to emphasize operetta more and more, Steiner still built the theater's seasons by emphasizing variety:[8] the typical fare included folk plays, burlesques with music, and operetta. He gradually phased out spoken-word dramas, contributing fundamentally to the Viennese operetta boom that continued till well into the twentieth century.[9] He produced both well-proven and new stage works by Offenbach but also discovered young talent such as the playwright Ludwig Anzengruber, the last prominent author of folk plays, and the composer Carl Millöcker, who became the Theater's Kapellmeister in 1869.[10]

When the first wife of Johann Strauss, jr., brought some of the composer's musical sketches to Steiner, he took on himself responsibility for encouraging Strauss to write operetta.[11] As it happened, Strauss, piqued by the Viennese successes of Jacques Offenbach, had already started working on an operetta, a project that fell through when it was discovered that his intended lead, Josefine Gallmeyer, was unavailable.[12] Steiner then collaborated with Strauss on Indigo and the Forty Thieves, which premiered on 10 February 1871 and for which Steiner wrote the libretto. Strauss's second operetta, Die Fledermaus (1874) became a fixture of German-language theaters and has remained in the canon of operetta to this day.[13] The initial production starred Geistinger as Rosalinde. Second and third productions followed in 1875 and 1876. The latter is notable for introducing, as Dr. Falke, Alexander Girardi, who stayed with the Theater's company for twenty two years and was a central figure in many successful operetta productions.

Steiner organized a playwright's guild, staged yearly benefit shows, and at the time of his death was one of the most popular figures in Vienna.[14] With his wife, Rosa (Kollinsky),[15] he had two sons: Franz Steiner, who took over his functions in the theater in 1880 and remained until 1884; and Gabor Steiner, who also became a theater manager and operator of a music hall. Gabor's son was Max Steiner, who worked in London theaters, then in New York, and after 1929 was a Hollywood film composer.

Some notable premieres during Steiner's tenure at the Theater an der Wien[16] edit

  • 1871 – Johann Strauss, jr., Indigo und die 40 Räuber (Indigo and the Forty Thieves)
  • 1871 – Ludwig Anzengruber, Der Meineidbauer (The Perjurer)
  • 1872 – Ludwig Anzengruber, Die Kreuzelschreiber (The Cross-writer)
  • 1874 – Johann Strauss, jr., Die Fledermaus (The Bat)
  • 1874 – Ludwig Anzengruber, Der G’wissenswurm (Bad Conscience)
  • 1875 – Johann Strauss, jr., Cagliostro in Wien (Cagliostro in Vienna)
  • 1876 – Carl Zeller, Joconde
  • 1877 – Richard Genée, Nanon
  • 1878 – Carl Millöcker, Das verwunschene Schloss (The Enchanted Castle)
  • 1879 – Carl Millöcker, Gräfin Dubarry (Countess Dubarry)
  • 1879 – Jacques Offenbach, Madame Favart

References edit

  1. ^ W. E. Yates, Theatre in Vienna: A Critical History, 1776-1995 (2005), p. 151.
  2. ^ 1853 is the year given by Constantin von Wurzbach, "Steiner, Maximilian," in Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich, 38. Theil. Kaiserlich-königliche Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Vienna, 1879, p. 79.
  3. ^ Constantin von Wurzbach, "Steiner, Maximilian," p. 79.
  4. ^ Camille Crittenden, Johann Strauss and Vienna: Operetta and the Politics of Popular Culture (2006), p. 71.
  5. ^ Crittenden, p. 72.
  6. ^ Crittenden, p. 72.
  7. ^ N. Rubey, "Steiner Maximilian" in Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950 (ÖBL). Band 13, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 2007–2010, ISBN 978-3-7001-6963-5, p. 175.
  8. ^ N. Rubey, "Steiner Maximilian."
  9. ^ "Vienna1900: Theater an der Wien". University of Washington. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  10. ^ N. Rubey, "Steiner Maximilian"; Crittenden, p. 71.
  11. ^ Robert Ignatius Letellier, Operetta: A Sourcebook, Volume 1, p. 473; Richard Traubner, Operetta: A Theatrical History (2004), p. 107
  12. ^ Traubner, p. 107.
  13. ^ Kurt Gänzl, "Die Fledermaus," Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre, as reproduced on the Operetta Research Center website.[1]
  14. ^ Constantin von Wurzbach, "Steiner, Maximilian," p. 80.
  15. ^ Rubey, Norbert; Schoenwald, Peter (1996). Venedig in Wien: Theater- und Vergnügungsstadt der Jahrhundertwende. Ueberreuter. ISBN 9783800035427.
  16. ^ Titles from a list of premieres given on the German Wikipedia page for Theater an der Wien

External links edit

  • Profile at Österreich-Lexikon

maximilian, steiner, austrian, american, composer, 1888, 1971, steiner, august, 1830, 1880, austrian, actor, theater, director, manager, known, particularly, leadership, vienna, theater, wien, from, 1869, 1880, period, during, which, theater, reduced, importan. For Austrian American composer 1888 1971 see Max Steiner Maximilian Steiner 27 August 1830 29 May 1880 was an Austrian actor and theater director and manager He is known particularly for his leadership of Vienna s Theater an der Wien from 1869 to 1880 a period during which the theater reduced the importance of folk plays dialect drama and was prominent in developing and promoting the fashion of a Viennese style of operetta 1 Steiner in 1875Cartoon of Maximilian Steiner bottom left with his boss Friedrich Strampfer top By Karel Klic 1869 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Some notable premieres during Steiner s tenure at the Theater an der Wien 16 3 References 4 External linksLife and career editSteiner was born in Ofen near Budapest in Hungary then a part of the Austro Hungarian empire In the early 1850s he began work in the stage crew of the theatre in Temeswar now in Romania In 1854 2 he was engaged by the theater director Friedrich Strampfer as an actor in the German language theater He continued to act in that theater and others in the region till 1862 gaining both acting and directing experience 3 when he followed Strampfer to Vienna where Steiner became secretary an executive role in the Theater an der Wien Strampfer gave him considerable leeway to develop his own career and in August 1869 Steiner became manager after Strampfer stepped down Till 1875 Steiner was co manager with the actress and singer Marie Geistinger together they set a tone for the repertoire that lasted until the end of the century 4 despite criticism from the conservative press 5 When Geistinger left for Berlin Steiner led the theater on his own with help from his sons Franz and Gabor till his death in 1880 Steiner s business acuity helped the Theater stay open after the stock market crash in 1873 6 but he did lose control for several months in 1877 due to another set of financial difficulties he gained control again later in the same year with the help of friends and other backers 7 Although he and Geistinger came to emphasize operetta more and more Steiner still built the theater s seasons by emphasizing variety 8 the typical fare included folk plays burlesques with music and operetta He gradually phased out spoken word dramas contributing fundamentally to the Viennese operetta boom that continued till well into the twentieth century 9 He produced both well proven and new stage works by Offenbach but also discovered young talent such as the playwright Ludwig Anzengruber the last prominent author of folk plays and the composer Carl Millocker who became the Theater s Kapellmeister in 1869 10 When the first wife of Johann Strauss jr brought some of the composer s musical sketches to Steiner he took on himself responsibility for encouraging Strauss to write operetta 11 As it happened Strauss piqued by the Viennese successes of Jacques Offenbach had already started working on an operetta a project that fell through when it was discovered that his intended lead Josefine Gallmeyer was unavailable 12 Steiner then collaborated with Strauss on Indigo and the Forty Thieves which premiered on 10 February 1871 and for which Steiner wrote the libretto Strauss s second operetta Die Fledermaus 1874 became a fixture of German language theaters and has remained in the canon of operetta to this day 13 The initial production starred Geistinger as Rosalinde Second and third productions followed in 1875 and 1876 The latter is notable for introducing as Dr Falke Alexander Girardi who stayed with the Theater s company for twenty two years and was a central figure in many successful operetta productions Steiner organized a playwright s guild staged yearly benefit shows and at the time of his death was one of the most popular figures in Vienna 14 With his wife Rosa Kollinsky 15 he had two sons Franz Steiner who took over his functions in the theater in 1880 and remained until 1884 and Gabor Steiner who also became a theater manager and operator of a music hall Gabor s son was Max Steiner who worked in London theaters then in New York and after 1929 was a Hollywood film composer Some notable premieres during Steiner s tenure at the Theater an der Wien 16 edit1871 Johann Strauss jr Indigo und die 40 Rauber Indigo and the Forty Thieves 1871 Ludwig Anzengruber Der Meineidbauer The Perjurer 1872 Ludwig Anzengruber Die Kreuzelschreiber The Cross writer 1874 Johann Strauss jr Die Fledermaus The Bat 1874 Ludwig Anzengruber Der G wissenswurm Bad Conscience 1875 Johann Strauss jr Cagliostro in Wien Cagliostro in Vienna 1876 Carl Zeller Joconde 1877 Richard Genee Nanon 1878 Carl Millocker Das verwunschene Schloss The Enchanted Castle 1879 Carl Millocker Grafin Dubarry Countess Dubarry 1879 Jacques Offenbach Madame FavartReferences edit W E Yates Theatre in Vienna A Critical History 1776 1995 2005 p 151 1853 is the year given by Constantin von Wurzbach Steiner Maximilian in Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich 38 Theil Kaiserlich konigliche Hof und Staatsdruckerei Vienna 1879 p 79 Constantin von Wurzbach Steiner Maximilian p 79 Camille Crittenden Johann Strauss and Vienna Operetta and the Politics of Popular Culture 2006 p 71 Crittenden p 72 Crittenden p 72 N Rubey Steiner Maximilian in Osterreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815 1950 OBL Band 13 Verlag der Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften Vienna 2007 2010 ISBN 978 3 7001 6963 5 p 175 N Rubey Steiner Maximilian Vienna1900 Theater an der Wien University of Washington Retrieved 2007 04 10 N Rubey Steiner Maximilian Crittenden p 71 Robert Ignatius Letellier Operetta A Sourcebook Volume 1 p 473 Richard Traubner Operetta A Theatrical History 2004 p 107 Traubner p 107 Kurt Ganzl Die Fledermaus Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre as reproduced on the Operetta Research Center website 1 Constantin von Wurzbach Steiner Maximilian p 80 Rubey Norbert Schoenwald Peter 1996 Venedig in Wien Theater und Vergnugungsstadt der Jahrhundertwende Ueberreuter ISBN 9783800035427 Titles from a list of premieres given on the German Wikipedia page for Theater an der WienExternal links editProfile at Osterreich Lexikon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maximilian Steiner amp oldid 1173461866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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