Fred Raymond
Encyclopedia
Fred Raymond, actually Raimund Friedrich Vesely (20 April 1900 – 10 January 1954) was an Austrian composer
.
Raymond, born in Vienna
, was the third child (after two daughters) of Vinzenz Vesely, an employee of the Austrian state railway system, and his wife Henriette, née Dluhos. Both parents were of Czech descent. They intended their son to study mining after high school, and pursure a career in the civil service. After the premature death of both his parents, Raymond studied at a commercial academy and trained as a banker.
Raymond composed operetta music as well as copious pieces for films and Schlager
, which were very successful in the 1920s and 1930s and were commonly heard being sung and whistled in the streets. He became world-famous with his 1925 composition "Ich hab mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren" ("I lost my Heart in Heidelberg
"), and his pieces were considered to be very much in the typical style of the 1920s, especially "Ich hab’ das Fräulein Helen baden seh’n" ("I Saw Miss Helen Bathing") or "Ich reiß' mir eine Wimper aus" ("I Lost An Eyelash").
Due to a weak heart, he spent his military service with a propaganda company which served the Belgrade
military transmitter. After the war
, he took a short break from the Salzburg Radio Orchestra to go to Hamburg, were he finished his last two operettas, Geliebte Manuela (Beloved Manuela) and Flieder aus Wien (Lilacs from Vienna).
In 1951, he moved to a new home in Überlingen
, where he spent three years with his young wife Eva-Maria before dying of a heart failure shortly before the birth of their son, Thomas. His marble grave is located in Überlingen, on the shore of Lake Constance
, and is decorated with a lyre. To commemorate the eightieth year of his birth, a street was named after him in the Donaustadt district.
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...
.
Raymond, born in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, was the third child (after two daughters) of Vinzenz Vesely, an employee of the Austrian state railway system, and his wife Henriette, née Dluhos. Both parents were of Czech descent. They intended their son to study mining after high school, and pursure a career in the civil service. After the premature death of both his parents, Raymond studied at a commercial academy and trained as a banker.
Raymond composed operetta music as well as copious pieces for films and Schlager
Schlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
, which were very successful in the 1920s and 1930s and were commonly heard being sung and whistled in the streets. He became world-famous with his 1925 composition "Ich hab mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren" ("I lost my Heart in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
"), and his pieces were considered to be very much in the typical style of the 1920s, especially "Ich hab’ das Fräulein Helen baden seh’n" ("I Saw Miss Helen Bathing") or "Ich reiß' mir eine Wimper aus" ("I Lost An Eyelash").
Due to a weak heart, he spent his military service with a propaganda company which served the Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
military transmitter. After the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he took a short break from the Salzburg Radio Orchestra to go to Hamburg, were he finished his last two operettas, Geliebte Manuela (Beloved Manuela) and Flieder aus Wien (Lilacs from Vienna).
In 1951, he moved to a new home in Überlingen
Überlingen
Überlingen is a city on the northern shore of Lake Constance . After the city of Friedrichshafen, it is the second largest city in the Bodenseekreis , and a central point for the outlying communities...
, where he spent three years with his young wife Eva-Maria before dying of a heart failure shortly before the birth of their son, Thomas. His marble grave is located in Überlingen, on the shore of Lake Constance
Lake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
, and is decorated with a lyre. To commemorate the eightieth year of his birth, a street was named after him in the Donaustadt district.
Operettas
- Lauf ins Glück (Run into Happiness) (1934)
- Ball der Nationen (Ball of the Nations) (1935)
- Fahrt ins Abenteuer (A Trip into Adventure) (1935)
- Auf großer Fahrt (On a Great Voyage) (1936)
- Marielu (1936)
- Maske in BlauMaske in BlauMaske in Blau is a grand operetta in two parts with music by Fred Raymond to a libretto by Heinz Hentschke and Günther Schwenn. The work had its premiere under Werner Schmidt-Boelke on 27 September 1937 at the Metropol Theater in Berlin...
(Blue Mask), book by Heinz Hentschke, lyrics by Günther Schwenn (1937) - Saison in Salzburg (Salzburger Nockerln) (Season in Salzburg – Salzburg dumplings) (1938)
- Die Perle von Tokaj (The Tokay Pearls) (1941)
- Konfetti (Confetti) (1948)
- Flieder aus Wien (Lilacs from Vienna) (1949)
- Geliebte Manuela (Beloved Manuela) (1951)
Films Based on Raymond's Works
With year and director:- Ich Hab mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren (1952, Ernst NeubachErnst NeubachErnst Neubach was an Austrian screenwriter, producer and director.-Biography:Neubach was a veteran of World War I, after which he worked as a master of ceremonies in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. He wrote lyrics for songs and over 2,000 hits, including I've lost my heart in Heidelberg...
) - Saison in Salzburg (1961, Franz Josef GottliebFranz Josef GottliebFranz Josef Gottlieb was an Austrian film director and screenwriter. He directed 60 films between 1959 and 2005...
) - Ball der Nationen (1954, Karl RitterKarl RitterKarl Ritter was a German diplomat, ambassador to Brazil, a member of the Nazi Party, Special Envoy to the Munich Agreement, a senior official in the Foreign Office during World War II, and convicted war criminal in the Ministries Trial.-Life:Karl Ritter was a graduate in law, and was appointed to...
) - Una Notte con te (1932, Ferruccio BianciniFerruccio BianciniFerruccio Biancini was an Italian film actor, producer, screenwriter and director. He appeared in 15 films between 1916 and 1950.He was born in Pomponesco, Lombardy and died in Rome.-Selected filmography:...
) - Staatsanwaltin Corda (1954, Karl RitterKarl RitterKarl Ritter was a German diplomat, ambassador to Brazil, a member of the Nazi Party, Special Envoy to the Munich Agreement, a senior official in the Foreign Office during World War II, and convicted war criminal in the Ministries Trial.-Life:Karl Ritter was a graduate in law, and was appointed to...
) - Die Perle von Tokay (1954, Hubert MarischkaHubert MarischkaHubert Marischka , brother of Ernst Marischka, was an Austrian operetta tenor, actor, film director and screenwriter.- Career :...
) - Nur am Rhein (1930, Max Mack – de)
- Mein Heidelberg, Ich kann dich nicht vergessen (1927, James Bauer – de)
- Saison in Salzburg (1952, Ernst Marischka)
- Maske in Blau (1942, Paul MartinPaul MartinPaul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
) - Maske in Blau (1953, Georg JacobyGeorg JacobyGeorg Jacoby was a German film director and screenwriter. He was married to Marika Rökk from 1940 until his death; the actress Gabriele Jacoby is their daughter.-Selected filmography:...
) - Das Glück wohnt nebenan (1939, Hubert Marischka)
Sources
Much of the content of this article comes from the corresponding German language Wikipedia article.- Lamb, AndrewAndrew Lamb (writer)Andrew Martin Lamb is an English writer, musicologist and broadcaster, known for his expertise in light music and musical theatre.-Biography:Lamb was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England, on 23 September 1942, the son of Harry Lamb, a schoolmaster, and his wife Winifred, née Emmott...
. 2001. "Raymond, Fred". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. S. SadieStanley SadieStanley Sadie CBE was a leading British musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians , which was published as the first edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.Sadie was educated at St Paul's School,...
and J. Tyrrell. London: Macmillan.
External links
- Zum 100. Geburtstag: Fred Raymond und die Operette (Happy 100th Birthday: Fred Raymond and Operetta)
- Biography
- List of stage works