Hugo David Weisgall (October 13, 1912 – March 11, 1997) was an American composer and conductor,[1] known chiefly for his opera and vocal music compositions.
Life and career
Hugo Weisgall was born in Ivančice, Moravia (then part of Austria-Hungary, later in his childhood Czechoslovakia) and moved to the United States with his parents in 1920 at the age of eight.[2]
Weisgall came from a family of several generations of cantors, and maintained a lifelong interest in both sacred and secular Jewish music. In 1992 he was commissioned by the Friends of the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary to write a song cycle, Psalm of the Distant Dove, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. Other major works include his most ambitious opera, Athaliah (libretto: Richard Frank Goldman, after Jean Racine), and his often-performed Six Characters in Search of an Author (libretto: Denis Johnston, after Luigi Pirandello).
Hugo Weisgall died at the age of 84 on Long Island, New York.[2]
Major works
Operas
Night (1932, not performed). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: after the play by Sholem Asch
Lilith (1934, not performed). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: after the play by L. Elman
The Tenor (1948–1950). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: Karl Shapiro and Ernst Lert (after the play by Frank Wedekind). World Premiere: February 11, 1952 Baltimore (Peabody Opera Company; conductor: Hugo Weisgall)
The Stronger (1952). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: Richard Henry Hart (after the play Den Starkare by August Strindberg). WP (piano version): August 9, 1952 Westport, Connecticut (White Barn Theatre; Hilltop Opera Company). WP (orchestral version): 1955 New York (Columbia University)
The Gardens of Adonis (1959, revised 1977–1981). Opera in 3 scenes. Libretto: John Olon-Scrymgeour (after the play Venus and Adonis by André Obey, based on the eponymous poem by William Shakespeare). WP: September 12, 1992 Omaha, Nebraska (Witherspoon Concert Hall)
Athaliah (1960–1963). Opera in 2 parts. Libretto: Richard Frank Goldman (after the play Athalie [1691] by Jean Racine). WP: February 17, 1964 New York (concert performance)
Nine Rivers from Jordan (1964–1968). Opera in a prologue and 3 acts. Libretto: Denis Johnston. WP: October 9, 1968 New York (New York City Opera)
Jenny, or The Hundred Nights (1975/76). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: John Hollander (after a [Noh] play by Yukio Mishima). WP: April 22, 1976 (Juilliard School, American Opera Center)
Will You Marry Me? (1989). Opera in 1 act. Libretto: Charles Kondek (after the play A Marriage Has Been Arranged by Alfred Sutro). WP: March 8, 1989 New York (Opera Ensemble of New York)
Esther (1990–1993). Opera in 3 acts. Libretto: Charles Kondek (after the Bible). WP: October 8, 1993 New York (New York City Opera)
Vocal music
A Garden Eastward Cantata for soprano and orchestra
A Song of Celebration for tenor, soprano, chorus and orchestra
Evening Prayer for Peace (Ki el shomrenu) for chorus a cappella
Fancies and Inventions for baritone and 5 instruments
Fortress, Rock of Our Salvation (Moos tzur) for chorus a cappella
Lyrical Interval song-cycle for low voice and piano
Psalm of the Distant Dove Canticle for mezzo-soprano and piano
So Spake Rabbi Akiba (Omar Rabbi Akiba) for chorus a cappella
"Liebeslieder" for Soprano and Piano
References
^"DRAM: Hugo Weisgall: Two Operas and Two Song Cycles". www.dramonline.org. 1960. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
^ a bPaul Griffiths (March 12, 1997). "Hugo Weisgall, Opera Composer, Dies at 84". The New York Times.
External links
Hugo Weisgall's page at Theodore Presser Company
Hugo Weisgall Papers in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Composer information from Theodore Presser, Weisgall's publisher.