Michael Krasznay-Krausz


Michael Krasznay-Krausz was a Hungarian–Austrian composer.
He was born in Pancsova, Austria-Hungary, and died in Budapest.

Life

Krasznay-Krausz was born into a Jewish family; his father owned a gramophone factory. He began composing at the age of 13. He studied counterpoint and composition at the Budapest Academy of Music under Victor von Herzfeld, as one of his first students, and also studied with Zoltán Kodály.
In 1919, his opera Mariká premiered at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest. He subsequently moved to Vienna, where he initially focused on symphonic and operatic works before turning to operetta in 1923. His first operetta, Bajazzos Abenteuer, premiered on 22 December 1923 at the Johann Strauss Theatre in Vienna. Another operetta, A Woman with Style, starring Fritzi Massary, was a major success in Berlin in 1927.
In the early 1930s, Krasznay-Krausz moved to Berlin, where his works continued to be staged until he was forced to leave in 1933. In May 1934, he was accused of plagiarism by Paul Abraham in connection with his operetta Die gelbe Lilie. He demonstrated that he had composed the work in August 1932, and the dispute was resolved amicably. Die gelbe Lilie premiered in Budapest on 5 January 1934 and in Vienna on 24 May, receiving 20 performances in Budapest.
In 1938, following the success of his so-called "musical crime novel" Dixie, which premiered on 8 February, rehearsals began for a new operetta, Mädel in Gefahr, at the Theater an der Wien, with radio broadcasts planned. The Anschluss in March 1938 brought the production to an end; on 17 March, flooding at the theatre further disrupted activities, and Krasznay-Krausz fled to Budapest.
His final operetta, Marion, premiered on 23 March 1940 at the Budapest City Theatre but was not successful. The title role was performed by Emmi Kosáry, who subsequently retired from acting.
Krasznay-Krausz died on 3 November 1940 in Budapest at the age of 43 and was buried in the Kozma Street Jewish Cemetery.
In addition to his operas and operettas, he was also known for composing numerous popular songs, particularly in the Schlager genre.

Awards

Works

Operas

Marika, premiered 22 May 1919 at the Hungarian State Opera, Budapest.Táncosnő, after Melchior Lengyel, premiered 1921.

Operettas

Bajazzos Abenteuer , premiered 22 December 1923, Johann Strauß-Theater, Vienna.Pusztaliebchen, premiered 19 December 1924, Johann Strauß-Theater, Vienna.Glück in der Liebe, premiered 25 February 1927, Johann Strauß-Theater, Vienna.Eine Frau von Format, premiered 21 September 1927, Theater des Westens, Berlin; French version, premiered 3 March 1931, Théâtre des Célestins, Lyon; Hungarian version, premiered 31 January 1934, City Theatre, Budapest.Yvette und ihre Freunde, premiered 18 November 1927, Bürgertheater, Vienna.Die Frau in Gold, premiered 28 February 1929, Neues Operetten-Theater, Leipzig.Der treue Musikant, premiered 21 November 1930, Neues Wiener Schauspielhaus.

Instrumental music

  • Nonet for strings and winds

Film music

Der Kaufmann von Venedig, 1923Die Lindenwirtin, 1930Panic in Chicago, 1931Girls to Marry