fbpx
Wikipedia

Viktor Léon

November 24, 2023

Victor Léon, also Viktor Léon (born Victor Hirschfeld; 4 January 1858, Szenic, Nyitra County, Kingdom of Hungary, Austrian Empire (today Senica, Slovakia) – 23 February 1940, Vienna) was a well-known Jewish Austrian-Hungarian librettist. He collaborated with Leo Stein to produce the libretto of Franz Lehár's romantic operetta The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe).

Victor Léon (1894)

Biography edit

Hirschfeld began a career as a journalist, and then branched out in the theatre under the pseudonym that was to become familiar - Viktor Léon.[1] Between 1880 and 1884 he wrote one-act libretti for Vienna's Ronacher variety theatre, the Carl-Schultze-Theater in Hamburg, and the German Theatre in Pest, collaborating with composers such as Max von Weinzierl, Rudolf Raimann and Alfred Zamara. Then came a three-act collaboration with Zamara, Der Doppelgänger, produced at the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz in Munich in September 1886.

He then wrote a libretto for Johann Strauss. Alas, Simplicius, a story of the Thirty Years' War, produced at the Theater an der Wien on 17 December 1887, was scarcely a success, even after being revised twice. There followed a string of further creations with composers such as Zamara, Joseph Hellmesberger, Jr., Alphons Czibulka, Rudolf Dellinger, and even Franz von Suppé (his last work, Das Modell), as well as German adaptations of foreign works that included Arthur Sullivan's The Yeomen of the Guard and Edward Jakobowski's Erminie.

Not until 1898 was Léon associated with a lasting success, when he collaborated with Heinrich von Waldberg and composer Richard Heuberger on Der Opernball (The Opera Ball), produced at the Theater an der Wien that January. Léon's profile was thereby significantly raised, and a string of further works in 1898 and 1899 included another enduring success in Wiener Blut (Vienna Blood), which Adolf Müller Jr. compiled for Vienna's Carltheater from published dance music by the ailing Waltz King, Johann Strauss. This was the first collaboration of the successful partnership of Léon and Leo Stein. Léon also had success with Leo Fall's Die geschiedene Frau which opened at the Carltheater in Vienna on 23 December 1908.

On some of his later works, Victor Léon collaborated with his younger brother Leo, who wrote under the name of Leo Feld. Léon was also director of many of his operettas. In 1910, his daughter Lizzi married the Theater an der Wien's leading man Hubert Marischka. It was Lizzi who suggested the Chinese setting for Die gelbe Jacke, later revised as Das Land des Lächelns. Alas, Lizzi never saw her idea reach the stage, for she died at the age of thirty after giving birth to a son in 1918. Léon dedicated the book of Die gelbe Jacke to her memory. Léon himself long survived not only his daughter, but also his younger brother and his most celebrated literary collaborator, Stein. His last stage credit was for the revision of Lehár's Das Fürstenkind as Der Fürst der Berge in 1932.

Léon remained active well into the 20th century, providing the libretto for Lehár's Das Land des Lächelns (1930), among other works.[2] Although not successful himself, his career brought him in contact with the biggest stars of Viennese opera during his time.[3]

Léon's property was confiscated after Austria's annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938.[4] He died of starvation while in hiding in 1940 at the age of 82.[5]

Works edit

Plays edit

  • Fräulein Lehrerin, 1905
  • Der große Name, 1909

Libretti edit

Filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ Lamb, Andrew. . Archived from the original on April 26, 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  2. ^ Kenrick, John (2003). "Who's Who in Musicals". Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  3. ^ "Victor Leon photograph collection: Guide". Houghton Library, Harvard College Library. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  4. ^ "News Brief". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 1940-04-30. Retrieved 2015-01-20.
  5. ^ "The Merry Widow's Fling with Hitler". Tablet. 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2015-01-20.

External links edit

November 24, 2023
viktor, léon, victor, léon, also, born, victor, hirschfeld, january, 1858, szenic, nyitra, county, kingdom, hungary, austrian, empire, today, senica, slovakia, february, 1940, vienna, well, known, jewish, austrian, hungarian, librettist, collaborated, with, st. Victor Leon also Viktor Leon born Victor Hirschfeld 4 January 1858 Szenic Nyitra County Kingdom of Hungary Austrian Empire today Senica Slovakia 23 February 1940 Vienna was a well known Jewish Austrian Hungarian librettist He collaborated with Leo Stein to produce the libretto of Franz Lehar s romantic operetta The Merry Widow Die lustige Witwe Victor Leon 1894 Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 2 1 Plays 2 2 Libretti 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksBiography editHirschfeld began a career as a journalist and then branched out in the theatre under the pseudonym that was to become familiar Viktor Leon 1 Between 1880 and 1884 he wrote one act libretti for Vienna s Ronacher variety theatre the Carl Schultze Theater in Hamburg and the German Theatre in Pest collaborating with composers such as Max von Weinzierl Rudolf Raimann and Alfred Zamara Then came a three act collaboration with Zamara Der Doppelganger produced at the Staatstheater am Gartnerplatz in Munich in September 1886 He then wrote a libretto for Johann Strauss Alas Simplicius a story of the Thirty Years War produced at the Theater an der Wien on 17 December 1887 was scarcely a success even after being revised twice There followed a string of further creations with composers such as Zamara Joseph Hellmesberger Jr Alphons Czibulka Rudolf Dellinger and even Franz von Suppe his last work Das Modell as well as German adaptations of foreign works that included Arthur Sullivan s The Yeomen of the Guard and Edward Jakobowski s Erminie Not until 1898 was Leon associated with a lasting success when he collaborated with Heinrich von Waldberg and composer Richard Heuberger on Der Opernball The Opera Ball produced at the Theater an der Wien that January Leon s profile was thereby significantly raised and a string of further works in 1898 and 1899 included another enduring success in Wiener Blut Vienna Blood which Adolf Muller Jr compiled for Vienna s Carltheater from published dance music by the ailing Waltz King Johann Strauss This was the first collaboration of the successful partnership of Leon and Leo Stein Leon also had success with Leo Fall s Die geschiedene Frau which opened at the Carltheater in Vienna on 23 December 1908 On some of his later works Victor Leon collaborated with his younger brother Leo who wrote under the name of Leo Feld Leon was also director of many of his operettas In 1910 his daughter Lizzi married the Theater an der Wien s leading man Hubert Marischka It was Lizzi who suggested the Chinese setting for Die gelbe Jacke later revised as Das Land des Lachelns Alas Lizzi never saw her idea reach the stage for she died at the age of thirty after giving birth to a son in 1918 Leon dedicated the book of Die gelbe Jacke to her memory Leon himself long survived not only his daughter but also his younger brother and his most celebrated literary collaborator Stein His last stage credit was for the revision of Lehar s Das Furstenkind as Der Furst der Berge in 1932 Leon remained active well into the 20th century providing the libretto for Lehar s Das Land des Lachelns 1930 among other works 2 Although not successful himself his career brought him in contact with the biggest stars of Viennese opera during his time 3 Leon s property was confiscated after Austria s annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 4 He died of starvation while in hiding in 1940 at the age of 82 5 Works editPlays edit Fraulein Lehrerin 1905 Der grosse Name 1909Libretti edit Der Doppelganger 1886 Music Alfred Zamara Simplicius 1887 Music Johann Strauss II Der Streik der Schmiede 1897 Music Max Josef Beer Der Opernball 1898 Music Richard Heuberger Wiener Blut 1899 Music Johann Strauss II Der Rastelbinder de 1902 Music Franz Lehar Die Schonen von Fogaras 1903 Music Alfred Grunfeld Barfussele 1904 Music Richard Heuberger Der Gottergatte with Leo Stein 1904 Music Franz Lehar Die lustige Witwe 1905 Music Franz Lehar The Merry Farmer German Der fidele Bauer 1907 Music Leo Fall Die geschiedene Frau 1908 Music Leo Fall Gold gab ich fur Eisen 1914 Music Emmerich Kalman Wiener Volkssanger 1919 Music Robert Mahler Die gelbe Jacke 1923 Music Franz Lehar later version The Land of Smiles 1929Filmography editDas erste Weib de directed by Hubert Marischka Austria 1915 A koldusgrof directed by Bela Balogh Hungary 1917 based on Vergeltsgott Drotostot directed by Lajos Lazar Hungary 1918 based on Der Rastelbinder The Merry Widow directed by Michael Curtiz Hungary 1918 Dorela directed by Ernst Marischka Austria 1921 The Merry Widow directed by Erich von Stroheim 1925 Love is Blind directed by Lothar Mendes Germany 1925 Der Rastelbinder directed by Heinz Hanus Arthur Gottlein de and Maurice Armand Mondet Austria 1926 The Divorcee directed by Victor Janson and Rudolf Dworsky Germany 1926 Das Furstenkind directed by Luise Fleck and Jacob Fleck Germany 1927 The Merry Farmer directed by Franz Seitz Germany 1927 The Land of Smiles directed by Max Reichmann Germany 1930 The Merry Widow directed by Ernst Lubitsch 1934 Opernball de directed by Geza von Bolvary Germany 1939 Vienna Blood directed by Willi Forst Germany 1942 The Merry Farmer directed by Georg Marischka Austria 1951 The Merry Widow directed by Curtis Bernhardt 1952 The Land of Smiles directed by Hans Deppe and Erik Ode West Germany 1952 The Divorcee directed by Georg Jacoby West Germany 1953 Opernball de directed by Ernst Marischka Austria 1956 The Merry Widow directed by Werner Jacobs Austria 1962 References edit Lamb Andrew The Librettists of The Merry Widow Archived from the original on April 26 2006 Retrieved 2008 05 20 Kenrick John 2003 Who s Who in Musicals Retrieved 2008 05 20 Victor Leon photograph collection Guide Houghton Library Harvard College Library Retrieved 2008 05 20 News Brief Jewish Telegraphic Agency 1940 04 30 Retrieved 2015 01 20 The Merry Widow s Fling with Hitler Tablet 2014 12 30 Retrieved 2015 01 20 External links editViktor Leon at the Internet Broadway Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Viktor Leon amp oldid 1155022843, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.