Ignaz Schnitzer (also Ignatz or Ignác Schnitzer; 4 December 1839 – 18 June 1921) was a journalist, translator,

librettist A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, 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 ...

and newspaper founder.

Life

Schnitzer was born in Ratzersdorf (then

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...

, which is today a district of

Bratislava Bratislava (German: ''Pressburg'', Hungarian: ''Pozsony'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Slovakia, Slovak Republic and the fourth largest of all List of cities and towns on the river Danube, cities on the river Danube. ...

, Slovakia). He began studying philosophy in Pest, but soon worked as a journalist. From 1857 he lived in Vienna and wrote for various newspapers, such as the ''

Pester Lloyd ''Pester Lloyd'' is a German-language online daily newspaper from Budapest, Hungary with a focus "on Hungary and Eastern Europe". History during the Austrian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire Its first stint of existence was from 1854 to 1 ...

'' and the ', as well as being an editor for the newspaper ''Der Fortschritt''. In 1867 he returned to Budapest and was first a member of the editorial board of ''Bécsi Debatte''. In 1869 he founded together with

Zsigmond Bródy Sigmund Brody, or Bródy Zsigmond (November 15, 1840, Miskolc - January 6, 1906, Budapest ) was a Hungarian people, Hungarian journalist, and member of the Upper House of the Hungarian Parliament. Life He attended the Gymnasium (school), gymnasiu ...

(1840-1906) the daily newspaper ''Neues Pester Journal'', which he headed as editor-in-chief for a decade. Besides he worked on Hungarian plays for German theatres; in 1879 he translated Ede Zsigligeti's ''Rauschgold'' for the Viennese

Burgtheater The Burgtheater (; literally: "Castle Theater" but alternatively translated as "(Imperial) Court Theater", originally known as '' K.K. Theater an der Burg'', then until 1918 as the ''K.K. Hofburgtheater'', is the national theater of Austria in ...

and

Mór Jókai Móricz Jókay of Ásva (18 February 1825 – 5 May 1904), known as Mór Jókai, was a Hungarian novelist, dramatist and revolutionary. Outside of Hungary, he was also known as Maurice Jókai or Maurus Jókai or Mauritius Jókai. He was a le ...

s ''Held Pálffy'' for the ''

Carltheater The Carltheater was a theatre in Vienna. It was in the suburbs in Leopoldstadt at Praterstraße 31 (at that time called Jägerzeile). It was the successor to the Leopoldstädter Theater. After a series of financial difficulties, that theater had ...

''. After selling his share in the ''Neue Pester Journal'' he moved back to Vienna in 1881 and worked mainly as a librettist and translator. Schnitzer was particularly acclaimed for his translations and poems of the works of

Sándor Petőfi Sándor Petőfi ( []; né Petrovics; ; ; 1 January 1823 – most likely 31 July 1849) was a Hungarian poet and Classical Liberalism, liberal revolutionary. He is considered Hungary's national poet, and was one of the key figures of the Hungari ...

into German. His friendship with

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (; ; 25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (), was an List of Austrian composers, Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas as well ...

led him to the libretto of his '' Zigeunerbaron'' and the cultural-historical and partly biographical work ''Bunte Geschichten aus der Johann-Strauß-Zeit''. As co-owner of the amusement park

Venice in Vienna The Prater is a 6 km² public park in Vienna's 2nd Districts of Vienna, district, Leopoldstadt. The name "Prater" is often used to refer to the Wurstelprater, an amusement park within the area. History Royal hunting ground The Prater was ...

founded by Gabor Steiner, he organized the financing. He operated the construction of new sights, such as the

Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel The (; 'Vienna Giant errisWheel'), or simply Riesenrad, is a tall Ferris wheel at the entrance of the Prater amusement park in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Austria's capital Vienna. It is one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions, a ...

. In 1894 he had the idea of commissioning a circular painting entitled "Kaiser Franz Joseph und seine Zeit" (Emperor Franz Joseph and his Time) for the fiftieth anniversary of the reign of Emperor

Franz Joseph I Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I ( ; ; 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the ruler of the Grand title of the emperor of Austria, other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 1848 until his death ...

in 1898. It was executed by the history painter Philipp Fleischer, and exhibited at the Ausstellungsstraße 143 in a circular building specially designed for this purpose by

Oskar Marmorek Oskar Adolf Marmorek (; 9 April 1863 – 7 April 1909) was a Galician-born Austro-Hungarian Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional m ...

. Schnitzer was married to the daughter of a doctor, Gabriele, née Laszky (10 April 1846 in

Gyöngyös Gyöngyös is a town in Heves County, Hungary, beside of the Gyöngyös creek, under the Mátra mountain ranges. As of 2022 census, it has a population of 27,957 (see Demographics). The town is located 8.4 km from the M3 motorway and 80.8 km ...

- 28 September 1913 in Vienna). His grave is at the

Kerepesi Cemetery Kerepesi Cemetery (Hungarian: ''Kerepesi úti temető'' or ''Kerepesi temető'', official name: ''Fiumei úti nemzeti sírkert'', i.e. "Fiume Road National Graveyard") is the most famous cemetery in Budapest. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in ...

in Budapest.

Awards

Honorary memberships in the literary societies of Hungary, namely the Petőfi- and the

Kisfaludy Society The Kisfaludy Society (Hungarian: ''Kisfaludy Társaság'') was a literary society in Pest, founded in 1836 and named after Károly Kisfaludy, who had died in 1830. It held monthly meetings and was a major force in Hungarian literary life, giving ...

, and the Vienna Hungarian Society.

Works

Compiled according to the catalogues of the

Austrian National Library The Austrian National Library (, ) is the largest library in Austria, with more than 12 million items in its various collections. The library is located in the Hofburg#Neue Burg, Neue Burg Wing of the Hofburg in Innere Stadt, center of Vienna. Sin ...

and the

Wienbibliothek im Rathaus The Wienbibliothek im Rathaus (), formerly known as the ''Wiener Stadt- und Landesbibliothek'' (), is a library and archive containing important documents related to the history of Vienna, Austria. Founded in 1856, the library, which also contains ...

(as of January 2013).

Libretti

* ''Joggeli''. Opera in three acts. Music by

Wilhelm Taubert Carl Gottfried Wilhelm Taubert (23 March 1811 – 7 January 1891) was a German pianist, composer, and conductor, and the father of philologist and writer Emil Taubert. Life Born in Berlin, Taubert studied under Ludwig Berger (piano) and Bernha ...

. 1853. * ''Muzzedin''. Romantic comic opera in 2 acts. Music by Siegmund Bachrich. 1883. * ''The Gold Man''. Play in 5 acts by Mór Jókai freely edited by Ignaz Schnitzer. Music by

Joseph Hellmesberger Jr. Joseph Heinrich Georg Hellmesberger Jr. (9 April 1855 – 26 April 1907), also known as Pepi Hellmesberger, was an Austrian composer, violinist and Conducting, conductor. Biography Hellmesberger was born in Vienna and was the son of violinis ...

1885. * The gypsy baron. Operetta in 3 acts after a story by

. Music by Johann Strauss (son). 1885. * ''Rafaela''. Comic opera in 3 acts by Adolph Schirmer and Ignaz Schnitzer. Music by

Max Wolf Maximilian Franz Joseph Cornelius Wolf (21 June 1863 – 3 October 1932) was a German astronomer and a pioneer in the field of astrophotography. He was the chairman of astronomy at the University of Heidelberg and director of the Heidelberg-K� ...

. 1886. * ''The Oracle''. Operetta in 3 acts. With free use of a motif by

Gregor Csiky Gergely Csiky (also Gregor Csiky; 8 December 1842 – 19 November 1891) was a Hungarian dramatist of Armenian ancestry (his mother's family is of the Verzár family that was initially called as Stefanian).Gudenus János József: Örmény e ...

. Music by

Josef Hellmesberger junior Josef may refer to *Josef (given name) *Josef (surname) * ''Josef'' (film), a 2011 Croatian war film *Musik Josef Musik Josef is a Japanese manufacturer of musical instruments. It was founded by Yukio Nakamura and is the only company in Japan spec ...

. 1889 * "The Royal Bride. Romantic comic opera in 3 acts. Music by

Robert Fuchs Robert Fuchs may refer to: * Robert Fuchs (composer) Robert Fuchs (15 February 1847 – 19 February 1927) was an Austrian composer and music teacher. As Professor of music theory at the Vienna Conservatory, Fuchs taught many notable composers, w ...

. 1889. * ''Paris in Vienna''. Decorative posse in 3 pictures. Text by F. Zell. Singing texts by Ignaz Schnitzer. Music by

Josef Bayer Josef Bayer (6 March 1852 – 12 March 1913) was an Austrian composer and the director of the Austrian Court Ballet from 1883 until his death. He was born and died in Vienna. Biography He studied at the Vienna Conservatory under the elder Jos ...

. 1890. * ''The Salzburg Bells''. A Mozart piece in 4 pictures by Ignaz Schnitzer and Sigmund Schlesinger. Not set to music. Around 1890. * ''Hussar blood''. (also: ''The village judge''). Operetta in 3 acts. Music by

Hugo Felix Hugo Victor Felix (19 November 1866 – 25 August 1934), born Felix Hugo Hayman, was an Austrian composer of operettas and musicals born in Budapest, Austrian Empire.Kurt Gänzl, Gänzl, Kurt"Felix the composer" ''Kurt of Gerolstein'', 19 Decemb ...

. 1894. * ''The Venus of Murán''. Opera in three acts by Ignaz Schnitzer and Georg Verö. Not set to music. Around 1900. * ''Kaspar'' (thus ''The beautiful Kaspar''). Comic operetta in 3 acts. Text by F. Zell and Ignaz Schnitzer. Music by Josef Bayer. 1902. * '' Bruder Straubinger''. Operetta in 3 acts by

Moritz West Moritz West (6 August 1840 – 11 July 1904) was an Austrian businessman and librettist, writing libretti for operettas by Carl Zeller and Franz von Suppé. Life West was born in Vienna, and studied law at the University of Vienna from 1858 to 1862 ...

and Ignaz Schnitzer. Music by

Edmund Eysler Edmund Samuel Eysler (12 March 1874 – 4 October 1949), was an Austrian composer. Biography Edmund Eysler was born in Vienna to a merchant family. He was supposed to enter the engineering profession, but his acquaintance with Leo Fall led h ...

. 1903. * ''Pufferl''. Operetta in 3 acts by Sigmund Schlesinger and Ignaz Schnitzer. Music by Edmund Eysler. 1905. * ''The electrician''. Operetta in 3 acts by Sigmund Schlesinger and Ignaz Schnitzer. Music by Carl Josef Fromm. 1906. * ''Tip Top''. Operetta in 3 acts by Ignaz Schnitzer and Sigmund Schlesinger. Music by Josef Stritzko. 1907. * ''Creole blood''. Operetta in 3 acts by Ignaz Schnitzer and Emerich von Gatti. Music by

Heinrich Berté Heinrich Berté (), born Heinrich Bettelheim (8 May 1857 – 23 August 1924) was an Austria-Hungarian composer of operas and operettas. Life Heinrich Berté was born in Galgócz, Hungary (now Hlohovec, Slovakia) in a Jewish family. At the begi ...

. 1910.

Lieder texts

* ''Seltsame Geschichte''. Chanson. Text after Samdo Petöfi. Music by Béla Laszky. * ''Vater

Radetzky Johann Josef Wenzel Anton Franz Karl, Graf Radetzky von Radetz (2 November 1766 – 5 January 1858) was a Czech nobleman and Austrian field marshal. He served as chief of the general staff in the Habsburg monarchy during the later period of ...

ruft!'' Soldatenlied. Music by

Franz Lehár Franz Lehár ( ; ; 30 April 1870 – 24 October 1948) was an Austro-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas, of which the most successful and best known is '' The Merry Widow'' (''Die lustige Witwe''). Life and career L ...

. 1914.

Translations

* Eduard Szigligeti: ''Rauschgold''. A comedy in three acts. After the Hungarian language. Hungaria, Budapest 1879. * Gergely Csiky: ''Die Großmama''. A comedy in three acts. After the Hungarian language. Entsch, Berlin 1892. * Stephen Phillips: ''Herodes''. Tragedy in three acts. German adaptation. Fischer, Vienna 1901. *

: ''Poetische Werke in sechs Bänden.'' German adaptation. Halm & Goldmann, Vienna 1910.

Book publications

* '' Franz Joseph I. und seine Zeit. Cultur-historischer Rückblick auf die francisco-josephinische Epoche.'' Lechner, Vienna 1898. * ''Meister Johann. Bunte Geschichten aus der Johann Strauß-Zeit.'' 2 volumes. Halm, Vienna 1920.

References

External links

* * *
Der Zigeunerbaron
With complete libretto. (Retrieved on 14 December 2019) : Contemporary press articles * To the seventieth birthday: * * * Obituary by Heinrich Glücksmann: {{DEFAULTSORT:Schnitzer, Ignaz Translators from Hungarian Translators to German Writers from Austria-Hungary Journalists from Austria-Hungary Librettists from Austria-Hungary 1839 births 1921 deaths Writers from Bratislava