Felix Wolfes
Encyclopedia
Felix Wolfes was an American educator, conductor
and composer
.
and piano
with Robert Teichmüller
. He also studied with Richard Strauss
and later in Strasbourg
with Hans Pfitzner
. His conducting debut was in Breslau in 1923. He then worked as musical director and opera
conductor in Essen (1924-31) and Dortmund (until 1933).
In Dortmund he had to leave his position in the spring of 1933 due to the Nazi rise to power. He emigrated
first to France and then in the United States. He conducted the Monte Carlo
opera in 1936 and 1937. In 1938 he moved to New York city
, where he worked as an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera
, where he stayed until 1947. In 1948 he followed a call to the New England Conservatory of Music
in Boston, where he taught for two decades. He died in Boston, aged 78.
Volume I, songs for high voice
Volume II, songs for high voice
Volume III, songs for medium voice
Volume IV, songs for medium voice
Volume V, songs for low voice
Selected Lieder, ed. John S. Bowman and Richard Aslanian, Theodore Presser Company, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Volume VI, songs for high voice, 1987
Volume VII, songs for medium voice, 1987
Volume VIII, songs for low voice, 1991
Volume IX, songs for high voice, 1991
Volume X, songs for medium voice, 1992
Volume XI, songs for medium voice, 1992
Volume XII, songs for high voice, 1996
Volume XIII, settings of poems by Hermann Hesse
, ed. Richard Aslanian, 2008
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Biography
Felix was born to Jewish parents in Hannover, Germany. After graduating from high school, he attended the Leipzig Conservatory, where he studied music theory with Max RegerMax Reger
Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger was a German composer, conductor, pianist, organist, and academic teacher.-Life:...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
with Robert Teichmüller
Robert Teichmüller
Robert Teichmüller was a German concert pianist and music educator.He studied piano and music theory with Carl Reinecke at the Leipzig Conservatory where he later became a faculty member in 1897, promoted to professor in 1908. He became one of the most influential piano teachers of his time...
. He also studied with Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
and later in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
with Hans Pfitzner
Hans Pfitzner
Hans Erich Pfitzner was a German composer and self-described anti-modernist. His best known work is the post-Romantic opera Palestrina, loosely based on the life of the great sixteenth-century composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.-Biography:Pfitzner was born in Moscow, Russia, where his...
. His conducting debut was in Breslau in 1923. He then worked as musical director and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
conductor in Essen (1924-31) and Dortmund (until 1933).
In Dortmund he had to leave his position in the spring of 1933 due to the Nazi rise to power. He emigrated
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
first to France and then in the United States. He conducted the Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
opera in 1936 and 1937. In 1938 he moved to New York city
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he worked as an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, where he stayed until 1947. In 1948 he followed a call to the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
in Boston, where he taught for two decades. He died in Boston, aged 78.
Works
Ausgewählte Lieder in 5 Bänden für Singstimme und Klavier (Selected Songs in Five Volumes), Mercury Music Corporation, New York 1962Volume I, songs for high voice
- 1. Die Nachtigall (Theodor StormTheodor StormHans Theodor Woldsen Storm , commonly known as Theodor Storm, was a German writer.-Life:Storm was born in Husum, at the west coast of Schleswig than an independent duchy and ruled by the king of Denmark...
), 1930 - 2. Weihnachten (Joseph von Eichendorff), 1940
- 3. Weinende Frau (Friedrich Schnack), 1943
- 4. Auf dem See (Ernst Bertram), 1943
- 5. Todelust (Joseph von Eichendorff), 1944
- 6. Du schlank und rein wie eine Flamme (Stefan GeorgeStefan GeorgeStefan Anton George was a German poet, editor, and translator.-Biography:George was born in Bingen in Germany in 1868. He spent time in Paris, where he was among the writers and artists who attended the Tuesday soireés held by the poet Stéphane Mallarmé. He began to publish poetry in the 1890s,...
), 1944 - 7. Spruch des Engels (Hugo von HofmannsthalHugo von HofmannsthalHugo Laurenz August Hofmann von Hofmannsthal ; , was an Austrian novelist, librettist, poet, dramatist, narrator, and essayist.-Early life:...
), 1945 - 8. Vorfrühling (Hugo von HofmannsthalHugo von HofmannsthalHugo Laurenz August Hofmann von Hofmannsthal ; , was an Austrian novelist, librettist, poet, dramatist, narrator, and essayist.-Early life:...
), 1947 - 9. Totengräber und Mädchen (Friedrich Schnack), 1949
- 10. Möwenflug (Conrad Ferdinand Meyer), 1950
Volume II, songs for high voice
- 11. Blume, Baum, Vogel (Hermann HesseHermann HesseHermann Hesse was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature...
), 1951 - 12. Ein Winterabend (Georg Trakl), 1952
- 13. Tief in den Himmel verklingt (Ricarda Huch), 1952
- 14. Dämmrung senkte sich von oben (Goethe), 1953
- 15. Herbstliche Tröstung (Werner Bergengruen), 1956
- 16. An eine Strophe (Ernst Bertram), 1956
- 17. Gelassenheit (Wang We, tr. Manfred Hausmann), 1956
- 18. Lied (Wilhelm Klemm), 1957
- 19. Erdgewalt (Rudolf G. Binding), 1958
- 20. Blühender Kirschbaum (Christian Wagner), 1958
Volume III, songs for medium voice
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
- 9.
Volume IV, songs for medium voice
- 10. In einer Dämmerstunde (Wilhelm von Scholz), 1955
- 11. Oase El Kjem (Albert H. Rausch), 1955
- 12. Vergiss, vergiss (Rainer Maria RilkeRainer Maria RilkeRené Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke , better known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was a Bohemian–Austrian poet. He is considered one of the most significant poets in the German language...
), 1956 - 13. Verschneiter Fluss (Liu Dsung-Yüan, tr. Manfred Hausmann)
- 14. Zigeunerlied (Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
), 1956 - 15. Erdgewalt (Rudolf G. Binding), 1958
- 16. Gelbe Rose(Ludwig Strauss), 1958
- 17. Gefunden (Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
), 1958
Volume V, songs for low voice
Selected Lieder, ed. John S. Bowman and Richard Aslanian, Theodore Presser Company, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Volume VI, songs for high voice, 1987
- 1. Unter den Sternen (Conrad Ferdinand Meyer), 1948
- 2. Todesmusick (Franz von SchoberFranz von SchoberFranz Adolf Friedrich Schober, since 1801 von Schober was an Austrian poet, librettist, lithographer, actor in Breslau and Legationsrat in Weimar....
), 1960 - 3. Herbstbild (Friedrich Hebbel), 1960
- 4. Venedig (Friedrich NietzscheFriedrich NietzscheFriedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
) - 5. Kleine Rat (Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
), 1961 - 6. In den Nachmittag geflüstert (Georg Trakl), 1961
- 7. Das Ende des Festes (Conrad Ferdinand Meyer), 1963
- 8. Der Hecht (Christian MorgensternChristian MorgensternChristian Otto Josef Wolfgang Morgenstern was a German author and poet from Munich. Morgenstern married Margareta Gosebruch von Liechtenstern on March 7, 1910...
), 1963 - 9. Rotkehlchen (Wilhelm Busch), 1964
- 10. Frühlingslied (Friederike Kempner), 1965
- 11. Auf eine Lampe (Eduard MörikeEduard MörikeEduard Friedrich Mörike was a German Romantic poet.-Biography:Mörike was born in Ludwigsburg. His father was Karl Friedrich Mörike , a district medical councilor; his mother was Charlotte Bayer...
), 1968
Volume VII, songs for medium voice, 1987
- 1. Verklärter Herbst (Georg Trakl), 1940
- 2. Nachklänge Beethovenscher Musik (Clemens BrentanoClemens BrentanoClemens Brentano, or Klemens Brentano was a German poet and novelist.-Overview:He was born in Ehrenbreitstein, near Koblenz, Germany. His sister was Bettina von Arnim, Goethe's correspondent. His father's family was of Italian descent. He studied in Halle and Jena, afterwards residing at...
), 1952 - 3. Der Einsiedler (Joseph von Eichendorff), 1953
- 4. Es geht eine dunkle Wolk' herein (German Folksong from the Thirty Years' War), 1953
- 5. Verfall (Georg Trakl), 1953
- 6. Septembermorgen (Eduard Mörike), 1955
- 7. Ein Traum ist unser Leben (Johann Gottfried von Herder), 1956
- 8. Das trunkne Lied (Friedrich Nietzsche), 1961
- 9. Es ist ein Schnee gefallen (15th cenutry German Folksong), 1962
- 10. Eingelegte Ruder (Conrad Ferdinand Meyer), 1963
- 11. Die beiden Esel (Christian Morgenstern), 1963
- 12. Inschrift auf eine Uhr mit den drei Horen (Eduard Mörike), 1965
- 13. Gesang einer gefangenen Amsel (Georg Trakl), 1965
- 14. In ein altes Stammbuch (Georg Trakl), 1965
- 15. Früh im Wagen (Eduard Mörike), 1967
Volume VIII, songs for low voice, 1991
- 1. Abschied vom Leben (Stefan Zwieg), 1952
- 2. Lied Kaspar Hausers (Paul VerlainePaul VerlainePaul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.-Early life:...
, tr. Richard Dehmel), 1926 - 3. Die stille Stadt (Richard Dehmel), 1951
- 4. Grabschrift eines Mannes (Rudolf Binding), 1959
- 5. Die zwei Brüder (Paul Pfitzner), 1959
- 6. In der letzten Stunde (Paul Pfitzner), 1959
- 7. Die Hölle (Manfred Hausmann), 1962
- 8. Ein Mönch spricht zu Gott (Wilhelm von Scholz), 1966
- 9. Schlaf ein! (Alexander von Bernus), 1966
- 10. Abendgespräch (Hermann Hesse), 1966
- 11. Verlorenheit (Hermann Hesse), 1967
- 12. Im Nebel (Hermann Hesse), 1941
- 13. Allein (Hermann Hesse), 1945
Volume IX, songs for high voice, 1991
- 1. Die Birke (Hermann Hesse), 1951
- 2. Über die Felder (Hermann Hesse), 1951
- 3. Am einen Schmetterling (Josef Weinheber), 1952
- 4. Die Schritte (Albrecht Goes), 1960
- 5. Am eine Tote (Josef Weinheber), 1960
- 6. Traumboot (Manfred Hausmann), 1961
- 7. Im Grase hingestreckt (Hermann Hesse), 1962
- 8. Verlorener Klang (Hermann Hesse), 1962
- 9. Was ist die Welt? (Hugo von Hofmannsthal), 1962
- 10. Weisse Wolken (Hermann Hesse), 1963
- 11. Spätblau (Hermann Hesse), 1964
- 12. Symphonie (Hermann Hesse), 1964
Volume X, songs for medium voice, 1992
- 1. Bei Mondaufgang (Sao-Han, tr. Hans Bethge), 1946
- 2. Sylphide, Josef Weinheber), 1955
- 3. Scheidende Seele (Albrecht Schaeffer), 1956
- 4. Heim in den Anbeginn (Werner Bergengruen), 1956
- 5. Am Gartenfenster (Albrecht Goes), 1958
- 6. Das Glasperlenspiel (Hermann Hesse), 1958
- 7. Spruch für eine Sonnenuhr (Rudolf G. Binding), 1958
- 8. Jahraus-Jahrein (Josef Weinheber), 1959
- 9. Zu Musik (Ricarda Huch), 1959
- 10. Die Liebenden (Georg von der Vring), 1959
- 11. Still zu wissen... (Josef Weinheber), 1961
- 12. Die Frauen von Ravenna (Hermann Hesse), 1961
- 13. Volkslied (After the French) (Manfred Hausmann), 1963
Volume XI, songs for medium voice, 1992
- 1. Den Toten (Josef Weinheber), 1953
- 2. Eisnacht (Siegbert Stehmann), 1954
- 3. Tausend Male (Christian Wagner), 1958
- 4. Ecce homo! (Veikko Antero Koskenniemi, tr. Johannes Öhquist), 1960
- 5. Nacht (Bo Djü, tr. Manfred Hausmann), 1960
- 6. Nachtlied (Georg von der Vring), 1962
- 7. Der Tod (Bernhard von der Marwitz), 1963
- 8. Der Dichter (Hermann Hesse), 1964
- 9. Kleiner Gesang (Hermann Hesse), 1964
- 10. Märzsonne (Hermann Hesse), 1969
- 11. Knarren eines geknickten Astes (Hermann Hesse), 1964
- 12. Aufgehender Mond (Georg von der Vring), 1965
Volume XII, songs for high voice, 1996
- 1. Brunnen-Inschrift (Wilhelm von Scholz), 1945
- 2. Nun leuchtet schon wieder (Unknown poet), 1951
- 3a. Die kleine Passion (original version) (Gottfried KellerGottfried KellerGottfried Keller , a Swiss writer of German-language literature, was best known for his novel Green Henry .- Life and work :...
), 1954 - 3b. Die kleine Passion (abridged version), 1954
- 4. Orpheus (Rudolf Binding), 1960
- 5. Relief (Saladin Schmitt), 1961
- 6. Andenken (Lili Medhat), 1962
- 7. Rote Pantoffeln (Heinrich HeineHeinrich HeineChristian Johann Heinrich Heine was one of the most significant German poets of the 19th century. He was also a journalist, essayist, and literary critic. He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of Lieder by composers such as Robert Schumann...
), 1962 - 8. Melodie (Ricarda Huch), 1962
- 9. An einen Dichter (Albrecht Schaeffer), 1963
- 10. Manche Nacht (Richard Dehmel), 1967
Volume XIII, settings of poems by Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature...
, ed. Richard Aslanian, 2008
- 1. Nacht, 1966
- 2. Traurigkeit, 1966
- 3. Weisse Rose in der Dämmerung, 1966
- 4. Weg in die Einsamkeit, 1967
- 5. Bei Nacht, 1967
- 6. Leise wie die Gondeln..., 1967
- 7. Spruch, 1968
- 8. Verwelkende Rosen, 1968
- 9. Sprache des Frühlings, 1968
- 10. Aufhorchen, 1968
- 11. Bei der Nachtricht vom Tod eines Freundes, 1968
- 12. Herbstvögel, 1969
- 13. Hingabe, 1969
- 14. Wie eine Welle, 1969
- 15. Kindheit des Zauberers, 1969
- 16. Der Blütenzweig, 1969
- 17. Aus der Kindheit her, 1969
External links
See also
- Richard StraussRichard StraussRichard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
- Hans PfitznerHans PfitznerHans Erich Pfitzner was a German composer and self-described anti-modernist. His best known work is the post-Romantic opera Palestrina, loosely based on the life of the great sixteenth-century composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.-Biography:Pfitzner was born in Moscow, Russia, where his...