Cornelius Schnauber
Encyclopedia
Professor Cornelius Schnauber is an eminent and highly-decorated scholar, historian, playwright, biographer and educator. He is at present an Emeritus Associate Professor of German at the University of Southern California
(USC).
Schnauber was born near Dresden, Germany on April 18, 1939. He received his doctorate at the University of Hamburg
in 1968 having studied German literature
, phonetics
, and political science
. He was also an instructor in the Phonetics Institute of the University from 1963 to 1968. On a 2004 PBS "Life and Times" TV show, Schnauber says that his father "was an early
member of the Nazi party ... He was not ambitious as though he didn't
want to become one of the leaders, but when the Nazis took over,
he had a good job first in the Nazi unions and then later on
during the war in the Nazi Red Cross." When Schnauber's grandparents brought up the question of where the Jews were sent, his father said they were deported to another country.
After his education in Germany, Schnauber met his wife, Judith Docter an American from Stanford, and they moved to Los Angeles
. They have a son and daughter: composer and music professor Tom Schnauber, and concert singer and performing artist Christina Linhardt. In Los Angeles, Schnauber became an Assistant Professor of German at USC (1968-1972) and from 1972, Associate Professor of German. He was Chairman of the Department of German at USC from 1975 to 1984. In September 1984, he founded the Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies at USC and he has been the director of the Institute from its foundation. He has been described by the Jewish Journal as "a leader in fostering German-Jewish relations".
Professor Schnauber is the co-founder of the German-Jewish dialogue with Morris Kagan, which has for over two decades brought together second generation German and Jews for reconciliation and healing.
From 1992 he has also been the German diction coach of the Los Angeles Opera
, helping to give performers a better understanding of the relationship between text and music in German operas.
As an author, Schnauber's output has ranged over a wide variety of subjects from an analysis of Hitler's Germany, Wie Hitler sprach und schrieb, Zur Psychologie der faschistischen Rhetorik (How Hitler Spoke and Wrote. The Psychology of Fascist Rhetoric), to philosophy, Pragmatischer Humanismus, Thesen Analysen Konsequenzen (Pragmatic Humanism, Theses, Analyses, Consequences), to literary criticism, Deine Träume - Mein Gedicht. Eugen Gomringer und die konkrete Poesie (Your Dreams -- My Poem: Eugen Gomringer and the Concrete Poetry), to studies of European artists in Hollywood, Spaziergänge durch das Hollywood der Emigranten (Hollywood Haven, Home and Haunts of the European Emigres and Exiles in Los Angeles). He has also contributed biographies of Fritz Lang
and Placido Domingo
.
Dr. Schnauber has also written a number of plays including one about Richard Wagner
's last days and his relations with his wife Cosima and fellow composer Felix Mendelssohn
. Another production, Irma and Emma, exploring the shifting memories of two old women in a nursing home, made its debut in 2006.
Professor Schnauber has been honored many times in his career including the Distinction of Honor in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria (1979), The Federal Republic of Germany Friendship Award (1983), The Cross of the Order of Merit for the Federal Republic of Germany (1986), and Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany awarded by the President of Germany in 2002. A further honor was the 2003 "Resolution Cornelius Schnauber" from the Los Angeles City Council for "his contributions to the understanding of the cultural heritage of the City of Los Angeles and the longstanding history of friendship between Berlin and Los Angeles".
These accolades ranks him as Germany's most decorated citizen.
His autobiography, Von Dresden bis Hollywood. Erinnerungen, Reflexionen und Begegnungen aus zwei Welten erzählt einer Freundin in 7 Vigilien (ISBN 3000302395)
was published by Progress Media and released March 2010.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC).
Schnauber was born near Dresden, Germany on April 18, 1939. He received his doctorate at the University of Hamburg
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
in 1968 having studied German literature
German literature
German literature comprises those literary texts written in the German language. This includes literature written in Germany, Austria, the German part of Switzerland, and to a lesser extent works of the German diaspora. German literature of the modern period is mostly in Standard German, but there...
, phonetics
Phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech, or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds or signs : their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory...
, and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He was also an instructor in the Phonetics Institute of the University from 1963 to 1968. On a 2004 PBS "Life and Times" TV show, Schnauber says that his father "was an early
member of the Nazi party ... He was not ambitious as though he didn't
want to become one of the leaders, but when the Nazis took over,
he had a good job first in the Nazi unions and then later on
during the war in the Nazi Red Cross." When Schnauber's grandparents brought up the question of where the Jews were sent, his father said they were deported to another country.
After his education in Germany, Schnauber met his wife, Judith Docter an American from Stanford, and they moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. They have a son and daughter: composer and music professor Tom Schnauber, and concert singer and performing artist Christina Linhardt. In Los Angeles, Schnauber became an Assistant Professor of German at USC (1968-1972) and from 1972, Associate Professor of German. He was Chairman of the Department of German at USC from 1975 to 1984. In September 1984, he founded the Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies at USC and he has been the director of the Institute from its foundation. He has been described by the Jewish Journal as "a leader in fostering German-Jewish relations".
Professor Schnauber is the co-founder of the German-Jewish dialogue with Morris Kagan, which has for over two decades brought together second generation German and Jews for reconciliation and healing.
From 1992 he has also been the German diction coach of the Los Angeles Opera
Los Angeles Opera
The Los Angeles Opera is an opera company in Los Angeles, California. It is the fourth largest opera company in the United States. The company's home base is the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, part of the Los Angeles Music Center.-Current leadership:...
, helping to give performers a better understanding of the relationship between text and music in German operas.
As an author, Schnauber's output has ranged over a wide variety of subjects from an analysis of Hitler's Germany, Wie Hitler sprach und schrieb, Zur Psychologie der faschistischen Rhetorik (How Hitler Spoke and Wrote. The Psychology of Fascist Rhetoric), to philosophy, Pragmatischer Humanismus, Thesen Analysen Konsequenzen (Pragmatic Humanism, Theses, Analyses, Consequences), to literary criticism, Deine Träume - Mein Gedicht. Eugen Gomringer und die konkrete Poesie (Your Dreams -- My Poem: Eugen Gomringer and the Concrete Poetry), to studies of European artists in Hollywood, Spaziergänge durch das Hollywood der Emigranten (Hollywood Haven, Home and Haunts of the European Emigres and Exiles in Los Angeles). He has also contributed biographies of Fritz Lang
Fritz Lang
Friedrich Christian Anton "Fritz" Lang was an Austrian-American filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional film producer and actor. One of the best known émigrés from Germany's school of Expressionism, he was dubbed the "Master of Darkness" by the British Film Institute...
and Placido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
.
Dr. Schnauber has also written a number of plays including one about Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's last days and his relations with his wife Cosima and fellow composer Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
. Another production, Irma and Emma, exploring the shifting memories of two old women in a nursing home, made its debut in 2006.
Professor Schnauber has been honored many times in his career including the Distinction of Honor in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria (1979), The Federal Republic of Germany Friendship Award (1983), The Cross of the Order of Merit for the Federal Republic of Germany (1986), and Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany awarded by the President of Germany in 2002. A further honor was the 2003 "Resolution Cornelius Schnauber" from the Los Angeles City Council for "his contributions to the understanding of the cultural heritage of the City of Los Angeles and the longstanding history of friendship between Berlin and Los Angeles".
These accolades ranks him as Germany's most decorated citizen.
His autobiography, Von Dresden bis Hollywood. Erinnerungen, Reflexionen und Begegnungen aus zwei Welten erzählt einer Freundin in 7 Vigilien (ISBN 3000302395)
was published by Progress Media and released March 2010.