Leo Ascher
Encyclopedia
Leo Ascher was a composer
of operetta
s, popular songs and film score
s.
as Leonem Ascher. His father, Moritz Ascher, was a local umbrella manufacturer. Leo wrote his first composition, a waltz
, at the age of 13 in 1893. He studied law at the University of Vienna
where he received his doctorate
in 1904. He also attended the Vienna Conservatory since 1898 and studied composition under Robert Fuchs
and Franz Schmidt
. He married Luise Frankl and they had one daughter, the writer Franzi Ascher-Nash (born in Vienna on 28 November 1910 and died in Millersville, Pennsylvania, on 1 September 1991).
He was briefly arrested during the pogrom
known as Kristallnacht
in 1938; once released, he left Austria for ever. Via France and England he emigrated to the USA where he lived since December 1939 until his death in New York City
. His artistic estate is kept at the Leo Ascher Centre of Operetta Music at Millersville University of Pennsylvania
which also provides the Leo Ascher Music Award (up to $1000) to undergraduates.
Mamzell Courage. His first operetta, Vergeltsgott to a libretto
by Victor Léon, premiered on 14 October 1905 at the Theater an der Wien
. He wrote another 30 stage works, among them Vindobona
, du herrliche Stadt (Vienna, 22 July 1910) and Bruder Leichtsinn (Bürgertheater
, 28 December 1917). His most famous work was Hoheit tanzt Walzer
; its premiere on 24 February 1912 at the Raimund Theater
was followed by a run of 500 performances. His operetta Der Soldat der Marie (1916) enjoyed even 800 performances in Berlin.
Besides operettas, he composed songs in the Vienna popular style (Wienerlieder, chanson
s, and music for films, e.g. for Purpur und Waschblau (1931) diected by Max Neufeld, with Hansi Niese and Richard Eybner.
After his arrival in New York, he continued to write musicals, patriotic songs and children's pieces until his death there on 25 February 1942.
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...
of operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
s, popular songs and film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s.
Biography
Ascher was born in ViennaVienna
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...
as Leonem Ascher. His father, Moritz Ascher, was a local umbrella manufacturer. Leo wrote his first composition, a waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
, at the age of 13 in 1893. He studied law at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
where he received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 1904. He also attended the Vienna Conservatory since 1898 and studied composition under Robert Fuchs
Robert Fuchs
Robert Fuchs was an Austrian composer and music teacher.As Professor of music theory at the Vienna Conservatory, Fuchs taught many notable composers, while he was himself a highly regarded composer in his lifetime....
and Franz Schmidt
Franz Schmidt
Franz Schmidt was an Austrian composer, cellist and pianist of Hungarian descent and origin.- Life :Schmidt was born in Pozsony , in the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire . His father was half Hungarian and his mother entirely Hungarian...
. He married Luise Frankl and they had one daughter, the writer Franzi Ascher-Nash (born in Vienna on 28 November 1910 and died in Millersville, Pennsylvania, on 1 September 1991).
He was briefly arrested during the pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
known as Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, and also Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht, and Novemberpogrome, was a pogrom or series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on 9–10 November 1938.Jewish homes were ransacked, as were shops, towns and...
in 1938; once released, he left Austria for ever. Via France and England he emigrated to the USA where he lived since December 1939 until his death in 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...
. His artistic estate is kept at the Leo Ascher Centre of Operetta Music at Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA, 3 miles southwest of Lancaster. Millersville University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.-History:...
which also provides the Leo Ascher Music Award (up to $1000) to undergraduates.
Career
Ascher began his career as a composer with the operaOpera
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...
Mamzell Courage. His first operetta, Vergeltsgott to a libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Victor Léon, premiered on 14 October 1905 at the Theater an der Wien
Theater an der Wien
The Theater an der Wien is a historic theatre on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district of Vienna. Completed in 1801, it has seen the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music...
. He wrote another 30 stage works, among them Vindobona
Vindobona
Vindobona was originally a Celtic settlement, and later a Roman military camp on the site of the modern city of Vienna in Austria. Around 15 BC, the kingdom of Noricum was included in the Roman Empire...
, du herrliche Stadt (Vienna, 22 July 1910) and Bruder Leichtsinn (Bürgertheater
Bürgertheater
The Bürgertheater was a theatre in Vienna.The Wiener Bürgertheater was erected in 1905 in the Third District , at Vordere Zollamtsstraße 13. It was designed by the architects Franz von Krauss and Josef Tölk. The official opening took place on December 7, 1905, with the performance of Der alte Herr...
, 28 December 1917). His most famous work was Hoheit tanzt Walzer
Hoheit tanzt Walzer
Hoheit tanzt Walzer is an operetta in three acts by Leo Ascher to a libretto by Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald, loosely based on Ein Walzertraum. It premiered on 24 February 1912 at the Raimund Theater in Vienna...
; its premiere on 24 February 1912 at the Raimund Theater
Raimund Theater
The Raimund Theater is a theatre in the Mariahilf district of Vienna, Austria.Named after the Austrian dramatist Ferdinand Raimund, the theatre was built by an association of Viennese citizens and opened on 28 November 1893 with Raimund's play Die gefesselte Phantasie...
was followed by a run of 500 performances. His operetta Der Soldat der Marie (1916) enjoyed even 800 performances in Berlin.
Besides operettas, he composed songs in the Vienna popular style (Wienerlieder, chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
s, and music for films, e.g. for Purpur und Waschblau (1931) diected by Max Neufeld, with Hansi Niese and Richard Eybner.
After his arrival in New York, he continued to write musicals, patriotic songs and children's pieces until his death there on 25 February 1942.
Works
- Mamzell Courage, opera
- Vergeltsgott, operetta (14 October 1905, Theater an der Wien, Vienna)
- Die Grüne Redoute, operetta (26 March 1908, Danzers Orpheum, Vienna)
- Vindobona, du herrliche Stadt, operetta (22 July 1910, Venedig in Wien, Vienna)
- Der fromme Silvanus, operetta (3 November 1910, Kabarett Fledermaus, Vienna)
- Das Goldene Strumpfband, operetta (1 May 1911, Etablissement Ronacher, Vienna)
- Hoheit tanzt WalzerHoheit tanzt WalzerHoheit tanzt Walzer is an operetta in three acts by Leo Ascher to a libretto by Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald, loosely based on Ein Walzertraum. It premiered on 24 February 1912 at the Raimund Theater in Vienna...
, operetta (24 February 1912, Raimund Theater, Vienna) - Die goldene Hanna, operetta (4 January 1913, Apollo Theater, Vienna)
- Was tut man nicht alles aus Liebe, operetta (17 December 1914, Ronacher Etablissement, Vienna)
- Botschafterin Leni, operetta (19 February 1915, Theater in der JosefstadtTheater in der JosefstadtThe Theater in der Josefstadt is a theater in Vienna in the eighth district of Josefstadt. It was founded in 1788 and is the oldest still performing theater in Vienna...
, Vienna) - Der Soldat der Marie, operetta (1916, Berlin)
- Bruder Leichtsinn, operetta (28 December 1917, BürgertheaterBürgertheaterThe Bürgertheater was a theatre in Vienna.The Wiener Bürgertheater was erected in 1905 in the Third District , at Vordere Zollamtsstraße 13. It was designed by the architects Franz von Krauss and Josef Tölk. The official opening took place on December 7, 1905, with the performance of Der alte Herr...
, Vienna) - Purpur und Waschblau, film music (1931)