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Paul Abraham

May 05, 2023

Not to be confused with Paul Abrahams.
The native form of this personal name is Ábrahám Pál. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Paul Abraham (Hungarian: Ábrahám Pál; 2 November 1892 – 6 May 1960) was a Jewish-Hungarian composer of operettas, who scored major successes in the German-speaking world.[1] His specialty – and own innovation – was the insertion of jazz interludes into operettas.[1]

Paul Abraham

Abraham was born in Apatin, Austria-Hungary (today Serbia), and studied at the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest from 1910 to 1916. He studied cello with Adolf Schiffer and composition with Viktor Herzfeld.

Career

Abraham was a son of Jakab Ábrahám (c. 1859–1909) – who was a merchant from Apatin, later head of a small private bank – and Flóra Blau (1872-1943), who came from Mohács (South-Hungary, next to Danube). Like many other composers of operettas, Abraham started with works of a serious nature. During the decade following his studies he wrote, among other things, sacred music, string quartets and a concerto for violoncello. When he was appointed conductor at the Budapest Operetta Theatre in 1927 he found his way to this more popular art form which was more suited to his talent.

His first operetta, Der Gatte des Fräuleins, was written in 1928. With his third, Viktoria und ihr Husar (1930), he achieved a resounding success. Through this work, and the next two operettas from 1931 and 1933 Die Blume von Hawaii (lit. The Flower of Hawaii") and Ball im Savoy he became renowned worldwide. He also wrote numerous film scores.

The Nazi seizure of power in 1933 forced Abraham to abandon his domicile in Berlin and leave Germany. He was unwanted both as a Jew, and as the author of Die Blume von Hawaii, considered a piece of "degenerate art" by the Nazis,[1] telling the story of a German sailor who falls in love with a Hawaiian girl.[2]

Via Vienna and Paris he moved to Cuba where he earned a modest living as a pianist and later emigrated to New York City. After a mental breakdown he was in February 1946 committed to the Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, later to the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens. In May 1956 he returned to live in Hamburg, Germany, where he received treatment at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. He died four years later, aged 67.

Selected filmography

Works

  • Zenebona (together with other composers) Operette in 3 acts, 2 March 1928, Budapest. Libretto: László Lakatos and István Bródy
  • Az utolsó Verebély lány Operette, 3 acts (also known as Az elsö Verebély lány or Der Gatte des Fräuleins) 13 October 1928 Libretto: Imre Harmath and Gábor Drégely
  • Szeretem a felségem (Es geschehen noch Wunder) Magyar Színház 15 June 1929, Libretto: André Birabeau and Georges Dolley (after: Stella Adorján)
  • Viktoria und ihr Husar (Victoria and her Hussar), Operette, 3 acts and prologue. 21 February 1930 Budapest, Operettentheater. Libretto: Imre Földes and Imre Harmath (German: Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda)
  • Die Blume von Hawaii (The Flower of Hawaii), Operette 3 acts, 24 July 1931 Leipzig, Neues Theater. Libretto: Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda, after Imre Földes
  • Ball im Savoy, Operette in 3 acts and prologue. 23 December 1932 Berlin, Großes Schauspielhaus. Libretto: Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda. English: Ball at The Savoy, 8 September 1933 London, Drury Lane Theatre
  • Märchen im Grand-Hotel, Lustspieloperette 3 acts 29 March 1934 Vienna, Theater an der Wien. Libretto: Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda
  • Viki, Music comedy in 3 acts, 26 January 1935 Magyar Színház, Libretto: Imre Harmath and Adorján Bónyi
  • Történnek még csodák, Music comedy in 3 acts 20 April 1935 Magyar Színház, Libretto: Imre Halász and István Békeffy [de]
  • Dschainah, das Mädchen aus dem Tanzhaus, Operette 3 Acts. 21 December 1935 Vienna, Theater an der Wien. Libretto: Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda
  • 3:1 a szerelem javára Operette in 2 Acts 18 December 1936 Király Színház, Libretto: Imre Harmath, Dezső Kellér and László Szilágyi
  • Roxy und ihr Wunderteam, Musikalischer Fußballschwank, 25 March 1937 Vienna, Theater an der Wien, Libretto: Hans Weigel and Alfred Grünwald[3]
  • Julia, Operette in 2 parts and a Nachspiel, 23 December 1937 Városi Színház Budapest, Libretto: Imre Harmath and Imre Földes
  • A Fehér hattyu Operette 3 acts (The White Swan), 1938
  • Zwei glückliche Herzen Libretto: Robert Gilbert and Armin L. Robinson. Premiere date unknown
  • Tambourin Musical in 2 parts (unperformed) Libretto: Alfred Grünwald

References

  1. ^ a b c Arts in Exile: Paul Abraham
  2. ^ Uncle Dave Lewis. Paul Abraham at AllMusic
  3. ^ Angela Eder, essay on this Football Operetta (in German)

Further reading

  • Daniel Hirschel. "Paul Abraham" in Operette unterm Hakenkreuz, Wolfgang Schaller (ed), Metropol Verlag, Berlin 2007, ISBN 978-3-938690-35-2
  • Lamb, Andrew. "Abraham, Paul." in Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, accessed 21 August 2008 (subscription required)

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul Abraham.
  • Biography (answers.com)
  • Biography (in German)
  • Paul Abraham biographical homepage (in German and English)
  • Chronology (in German)
  • Paul Abraham at IMDb
  • Paul Abraham, film by János S. Darvas

May 05, 2023
paul, abraham, confused, with, native, form, this, personal, name, Ábrahám, pál, this, article, uses, western, name, order, when, mentioning, individuals, hungarian, Ábrahám, pál, november, 1892, 1960, jewish, hungarian, composer, operettas, scored, major, suc. Not to be confused with Paul Abrahams The native form of this personal name is Abraham Pal This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals Paul Abraham Hungarian Abraham Pal 2 November 1892 6 May 1960 was a Jewish Hungarian composer of operettas who scored major successes in the German speaking world 1 His specialty and own innovation was the insertion of jazz interludes into operettas 1 Paul Abraham Abraham was born in Apatin Austria Hungary today Serbia and studied at the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest from 1910 to 1916 He studied cello with Adolf Schiffer and composition with Viktor Herzfeld Contents 1 Career 2 Selected filmography 3 Works 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksCareer EditAbraham was a son of Jakab Abraham c 1859 1909 who was a merchant from Apatin later head of a small private bank and Flora Blau 1872 1943 who came from Mohacs South Hungary next to Danube Like many other composers of operettas Abraham started with works of a serious nature During the decade following his studies he wrote among other things sacred music string quartets and a concerto for violoncello When he was appointed conductor at the Budapest Operetta Theatre in 1927 he found his way to this more popular art form which was more suited to his talent His first operetta Der Gatte des Frauleins was written in 1928 With his third Viktoria und ihr Husar 1930 he achieved a resounding success Through this work and the next two operettas from 1931 and 1933 Die Blume von Hawaii lit The Flower of Hawaii and Ball im Savoy he became renowned worldwide He also wrote numerous film scores The Nazi seizure of power in 1933 forced Abraham to abandon his domicile in Berlin and leave Germany He was unwanted both as a Jew and as the author of Die Blume von Hawaii considered a piece of degenerate art by the Nazis 1 telling the story of a German sailor who falls in love with a Hawaiian girl 2 Via Vienna and Paris he moved to Cuba where he earned a modest living as a pianist and later emigrated to New York City After a mental breakdown he was in February 1946 committed to the Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan later to the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens In May 1956 he returned to live in Hamburg Germany where he received treatment at the University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf He died four years later aged 67 Selected filmography EditThe Singing City 1930 The Private Secretary 1931 Sunshine Susie 1931 City of Song 1931 Victoria and Her Hussar 1931 The Blue of Heaven 1932 Gypsies of the Night 1932 Overnight Sensation 1932 A Bit of Love Monsieur Madame and Bibi 1932 The Rakoczi March 1933 The Typist Gets Married 1934 Temptation 1934 Antonia 1935 Ball at the Savoy 1935 Modern Girls 1937 Roxy and the Wonderteam 1938 Serenade 1940 The Private Secretary 1953 Ball at the Savoy 1955 Works EditZenebona together with other composers Operette in 3 acts 2 March 1928 Budapest Libretto Laszlo Lakatos and Istvan Brody Az utolso Verebely lany Operette 3 acts also known as Az elso Verebely lany or Der Gatte des Frauleins 13 October 1928 Libretto Imre Harmath and Gabor Dregely Szeretem a felsegem Es geschehen noch Wunder Magyar Szinhaz 15 June 1929 Libretto Andre Birabeau and Georges Dolley after Stella Adorjan Viktoria und ihr Husar Victoria and her Hussar Operette 3 acts and prologue 21 February 1930 Budapest Operettentheater Libretto Imre Foldes and Imre Harmath German Alfred Grunwald and Fritz Lohner Beda Die Blume von Hawaii The Flower of Hawaii Operette 3 acts 24 July 1931 Leipzig Neues Theater Libretto Alfred Grunwald and Fritz Lohner Beda after Imre Foldes Ball im Savoy Operette in 3 acts and prologue 23 December 1932 Berlin Grosses Schauspielhaus Libretto Alfred Grunwald and Fritz Lohner Beda English Ball at The Savoy 8 September 1933 London Drury Lane Theatre Marchen im Grand Hotel Lustspieloperette 3 acts 29 March 1934 Vienna Theater an der Wien Libretto Alfred Grunwald and Fritz Lohner Beda Viki Music comedy in 3 acts 26 January 1935 Magyar Szinhaz Libretto Imre Harmath and Adorjan Bonyi Tortennek meg csodak Music comedy in 3 acts 20 April 1935 Magyar Szinhaz Libretto Imre Halasz and Istvan Bekeffy de Dschainah das Madchen aus dem Tanzhaus Operette 3 Acts 21 December 1935 Vienna Theater an der Wien Libretto Alfred Grunwald and Fritz Lohner Beda 3 1 a szerelem javara Operette in 2 Acts 18 December 1936 Kiraly Szinhaz Libretto Imre Harmath Dezso Keller and Laszlo Szilagyi Roxy und ihr Wunderteam Musikalischer Fussballschwank 25 March 1937 Vienna Theater an der Wien Libretto Hans Weigel and Alfred Grunwald 3 Julia Operette in 2 parts and a Nachspiel 23 December 1937 Varosi Szinhaz Budapest Libretto Imre Harmath and Imre Foldes A Feher hattyu Operette 3 acts The White Swan 1938 Zwei gluckliche Herzen Libretto Robert Gilbert and Armin L Robinson Premiere date unknown Tambourin Musical in 2 parts unperformed Libretto Alfred GrunwaldReferences Edit a b c Arts in Exile Paul Abraham Uncle Dave Lewis Paul Abraham at AllMusic Angela Eder essay on this Football Operetta in German Further reading EditDaniel Hirschel Paul Abraham in Operette unterm Hakenkreuz Wolfgang Schaller ed Metropol Verlag Berlin 2007 ISBN 978 3 938690 35 2 Lamb Andrew Abraham Paul in Grove Music Online Oxford Music Online accessed 21 August 2008 subscription required External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul Abraham Biography answers com Biography in German Paul Abraham biographical homepage in German and English Chronology in German Paul Abraham at IMDb Paul Abraham film by Janos S Darvas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Abraham amp oldid 1143922291, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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