Edmund Eisler
Edmund Eysler

Edmund Eysler [Eisler]

Austrian Composer : b Vienna 12 March 1874: d. Vienna 4 October 1949.

Eisler struggled to make a career as a serious composer in his early years, supporting himself through teaching piano, before a well-meaning relative arranged an introduction to the librettist Ignatz Schnitzer (who had written the book for Der Zigeunerbaron). Schnitzer gave Eysler a book he had originally intended for Strauss to set, Der Hexenspiegel, and although the publisher Weinberger accepted the resulting work, he could not place it with any theatre. He did suggest Eysler use much of the musical material to fashion a new operetta, and this became the very successful Brüder Straubinger. Eysler's subsequent operettas were very popular in Germany and Austria, but their rather 'folksy' Viennese character mitigated against their achieving the international success his contemporaries enjoyed. Der Lachende Ehemann (1913), Hanni, geht tanzen (1916) and Die gold'ne Meisterin (1927) are his best-known other works.

Eysler's music was suppressed during the Nazi regime because of his Jewish origin. Surprisingly, he did not emigrate during the war, but was hidden and protected by his family and friends throughout the period to 1945. His last few years brought him renewed recognition in Vienna, where he was a loved and respected figure.

Stage Works

  1. Schlaraffenland (Ballet) - 1899

  2. Der Hexenspiegel (Opera) - 1900

  3. Bruder Straubinger (Operetta; 3 Acts; Book by Sigmund Schlesinger; Lyrics by Ignatz Schnitzer); Theater an der Wien 20 February 1903

  4. Pufferl (Amor di Principe) (Operetta; 3 Acts; Book and lyrics by Ignatz Schnitzer and Sigmund Schlesinger); Theater an der Wein 10 February 1905

  5. Die Schützenliesl (Operetta; 3 Acts; Book and Lyrics by Leo Stein and C. Lindau); Carltheater 20 October 1906

  6. Vera Violetta (Musical Entertainment in 2 Acts; Book and lyrics by Leo Stein) Apollo Theater 30 November 1907

  7. Künsterblut (The Love Cure) (Musical Romance in 3 Acts; Book and lyrics by Leo Stein and Karl Lindau)

  8. Der Freunfresser (The Women Haters) (Operetta; 3 Acts; Book and lyrics by Leo Stein and Karl Lindau); Bürgertheater 23 December 1911

  9. Der lachende Ebemann (The Laughing Husband) (comedy operetta; 3 Act; Book and lyrics by Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald); Bürgertheatre 19 March 1913

  10. Ein Tag im Paradies (The Blue Paradise) (operetta; 3 Act; Book and lyrics by Leo Stein and Béla Jenbach); Bürgertheater 23 December 1913

  11. Die gold'ne Meisterin (operetta; 3 Act; Book and lyrics by Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald); Theater an der Wein 13 September 1927