Josef Goldstein
Encyclopedia
Josef Goldstein was an Austrian cantor
and composer. He was chief cantor at the Leopoldstädter Tempel
in Vienna
, Austria
from 1857 until his death.
, Hungary
. His father was cantor at Kecskemét and then at Neutra, Hungary (now Nitra
, Slovakia
). Upon his father's death in about 1848 Josef, aged about 12, was so well acquainted with the liturgy and possessed such an exceptional tenor
voice that the congregation of Neutra elected him as his father's successor. He remained there for two years and then undertook a four years tour through Austria and Germany, officiating in some of their largest congregations. Upon his return to Neutra an admirer of his voice sent him to Vienna to be educated for the stage. He received voice training from Mathilde Marchesi
, a renowned voice teacher of the bel canto
method. On the completion of his training and when about to enter upon his first engagement in Florence, he decided to return to the position of cantor and received an appointment at the Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna in 1857, retaining the position until his death in 1899. His published works include the three volume "Schire Jeschurun;" a collection of songs for the Sabbath and for festivals (1862), "Psalmen und Choralgesänge;" psalms and choral songs (1872), and a requiem (1892).
who gained notoriety as an opera singer until her untimely death at the age of 29 due to tuberculosis
.
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
and composer. He was chief cantor at the Leopoldstädter Tempel
Leopoldstädter Tempel
The Leopoldstädter Tempel was the largest synagogue of Vienna, in the district of Leopoldstadt. It was also known as the Israelitische Bethaus in der Wiener Vorstadt Leopoldstadt. It was built in 1858 in a Moorish Revival style by the architect Ludwig Förster...
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...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
from 1857 until his death.
Career
Josef was born to Samuel and Maria Goldstein (née Hacker) in KecskemétKecskemét
Kecskemét is a city in the central part of Hungary. It is the 8th largest city of the country, and the county seat of Bács-Kiskun.Kecskemét lies halfway between the capital Budapest and the country's third-largest city, Szeged, 86 kilometres from both of them and almost equal distance from the two...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. His father was cantor at Kecskemét and then at Neutra, Hungary (now Nitra
Nitra
Nitra is a city in western Slovakia, situated at the foot of Zobor Mountain in the valley of the river Nitra. With a population of about 83,572, it is the fifth largest city in Slovakia. Nitra is also one of the oldest cities in Slovakia and the country's earliest political and cultural center...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
). Upon his father's death in about 1848 Josef, aged about 12, was so well acquainted with the liturgy and possessed such an exceptional tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
voice that the congregation of Neutra elected him as his father's successor. He remained there for two years and then undertook a four years tour through Austria and Germany, officiating in some of their largest congregations. Upon his return to Neutra an admirer of his voice sent him to Vienna to be educated for the stage. He received voice training from Mathilde Marchesi
Mathilde Marchesi
Mathilde Marchesi was a German mezzo-soprano, a renowned teacher of singing, and a proponent of the bel canto vocal method.-Biography:...
, a renowned voice teacher of the bel canto
Bel canto
Bel canto , along with a number of similar constructions , is an Italian opera term...
method. On the completion of his training and when about to enter upon his first engagement in Florence, he decided to return to the position of cantor and received an appointment at the Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna in 1857, retaining the position until his death in 1899. His published works include the three volume "Schire Jeschurun;" a collection of songs for the Sabbath and for festivals (1862), "Psalmen und Choralgesänge;" psalms and choral songs (1872), and a requiem (1892).
Family
Josef had 7 children with his wife Katharina (née Heim). Twin sons, Arnold (1866-1942) and Emil (1866-1944) Golz wrote operettas, libretti and farces for the Viennese stage. A daughter, Irma Golz (1874-1903) was a Viennese sopranoSoprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
who gained notoriety as an opera singer until her untimely death at the age of 29 due to tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.