Paul Abraham (; 2 November 1892 – 6 May 1960) was a Jewish-Hungarian

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs and including dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, and length of the work. Apart from its shorter length, the oper ...

s, who scored major successes in the German-speaking world. His specialty – and own innovation – was the insertion of jazz interludes into operettas. Arts in Exile: Paul Abraham
/ref> Abraham was born in

Apatin Apatin ( sr-Cyrl, Апатин, , ) is a town and municipality located in the West Bačka District of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. As of 2022 census, the population of the town is 14,613, while the municipality has 23,155 inhabita ...

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

(today

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), and studied at the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest from 1910 to 1916. He studied

cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

with

Adolf Schiffer Adolf Schiffer (1873–1950) was a Hungarian-bor Czechs, Czech cellist and teacher of Jewish heritage, who for many years served as professor in cello at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. He is best remembered as being the link between ...

and

composition Composition or Compositions may refer to: Arts and literature *Composition (dance), practice and teaching of choreography * Composition (language), in literature and rhetoric, producing a work in spoken tradition and written discourse, to include ...

with Viktor Herzfeld.

Career

Abraham was a son of Jakab Ábrahám (c. 1859–1909) – who was a merchant from Apatin, later head of a small private bank – and Flóra Blau (1872-1943), who came from Mohács (South-Hungary, next to Danube). Like many other composers of operettas, Abraham started with works of a serious nature. During the decade following his studies he wrote, among other things, sacred music, string quartets and a concerto for violoncello. When he was appointed

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Biology and medicine * Bone conduction, the conduction of sound to the inner ear * Conduction aphasia, a language disorder Mathematics * Conductor (ring theory) * Conductor of an abelian variety * Cond ...

at the Budapest Operetta Theatre in 1927 he found his way to this more popular art form which was more suited to his talent. His first operetta, ''Der Gatte des Fräuleins'', was written in 1928. With his third, ''

Viktoria und ihr Husar ''Viktoria und ihr Husar'' (''Victoria and Her Hussar'' is an operetta in three acts and a prelude by Paul Abraham with a libretto by Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda, based on a work by the Hungarian playwright Imre Földes. It premiere ...

'' (1930), he achieved a resounding success. Through this work, and the next two operettas from 1931 and 1933 '' Die Blume von Hawaii'' (''lit. ''The Flower of Hawaii") and '' Ball im Savoy'' he became renowned worldwide. He also wrote numerous film scores. The

Nazi seizure of power The rise to power of Adolf Hitler, dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, began in the newly established Weimar Republic in September 1919, when Hitler joined the '' Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' (DAP; German Workers' Party). He quickly rose t ...

in 1933 forced Abraham to abandon his domicile in Berlin and leave Germany. He was unwanted both as a Jew, and as the author of ''Die Blume von Hawaii'', considered a piece of " degenerate art" by the Nazis, telling the story of a German sailor who falls in love with a Hawaiian girl. Via Vienna and Paris he moved to Cuba where he earned a modest living as a pianist and later emigrated to New York City. After a mental breakdown he was in February 1946 committed to the

Bellevue Hospital Bellevue Hospital (officially NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and formerly known as Bellevue Hospital Center) is a hospital in New York City and the oldest public hospital in the United States. One of the largest hospitals in the United States ...

in Manhattan, later to the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens. In May 1956 he returned to live in Hamburg, Germany, where he received treatment at the

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (German: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, UKE) is the teaching hospital of the University of Hamburg and the largest hospital in Hamburg, Germany. The UKE has 1,738 beds and 121 day-care pla ...

. He died four years later, aged 67.

Selected filmography

* ''

The Singing City ''The Singing City'' (German: ''Die singende Stadt'') is a 1930 German musical film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring Jan Kiepura, Brigitte Helm and Walter Janssen. The film's sets were designed by the art director Oscar Werndorff. An E ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Private Secretary ''The Private Secretary'' is an 1883 farce in three acts, by Charles Hawtrey (actor born 1858), Charles Hawtrey. The play, adapted from a German original, depicts the vicissitudes of a mild young clergyman, innocently caught up in the machinatio ...

'' (1931) * ''

Sunshine Susie ''Sunshine Susie'' is a 1931 British musical comedy film directed by Victor Saville and starring Renate Müller, Jack Hulbert, and Owen Nares. The film was shot at Islington Studios with sets designed by Alex Vetchinsky. It was based on a novel ...

'' (1931) * ''

City of Song ''City of Song'', also known as ''Farewell to Love'', is a 1931 British/German romance film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring Jan Kiepura, Betty Stockfeld and Hugh Wakefield. It was shot at Wembley Studios.Wood p.69 The film's sets were d ...

'' (1931) * '' Victoria and Her Hussar'' (1931) * ''

The Blue of Heaven ''The Blue of Heaven'' () is a 1932 German musical film directed by Victor Janson and starring Mártha Eggerth, Hermann Thimig, and Fritz Kampers Fritz Kampers (14 July 1891 – 1 September 1950) was a German film actor. He appeared in mo ...

'' (1932) * ''

Gypsies of the Night ''Gypsies of the Night'' () is a 1932 German film directed by Hanns Schwarz and starring Jenny Jugo, Hans Brausewetter, and Paul Kemp. A separate French-language version '' Happy Hearts'' was also released. The film's sets were designed by the ...

'' (1932) * '' Overnight Sensation'' (1932) * ''

A Bit of Love ''A Bit of Love'' () is a 1932 German comedy film directed by Max Neufeld and starring Lee Parry, Magda Schneider, and Hermann Thimig.Bock & Bergfelder, p. 550 It was made at the Johannisthal Studios in Berlin. The film's art direction was by E ...

'' / '' Monsieur, Madame and Bibi'' (1932) * ''

The Rakoczi March ''The Rakoczi March'' () is a 1933 drama film directed by Gustav Fröhlich and Steve Sekely and starring Fröhlich, Leopold Kramer and Camilla Horn. It was a International co-production, co-production between Austria, Germany and Hungary.Dassa ...

'' (1933) * ''

Purple Lilacs ''Purple Lilacs'' (Hungarian: ''Lila akác'') is a 1934 Hungarian musical comedy film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Irén Ágay, Irén Biller and György Nagy. It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. The film's sets were designe ...

'' (1934) * '' The Typist Gets Married'' (1934) * ''

Temptation Temptation is a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals.Webb, J.R. (Sep 2014). Incorporating Spirituality into Psychology of temptation: Conceptualization, measurement, and clinical implications. Sp ...

'' (1934) * ''

Antonia Antonia may refer to: People * Antonia (name), including a list of people with the name * Antonia gens, a Roman family, any woman of the gens was named ''Antonia'' * Antônia (footballer) * Antônia Melo Entertainment * '' Antonia's Line'', o ...

'' (1935) * '' Ball at the Savoy'' (1935) * ''

Modern Girls ''Modern Girls'' is a 1986 American comedy film directed by Jerry Kramer, starring Virginia Madsen, Daphne Zuniga, and Cynthia Gibb. Set during a single night in Los Angeles, it follows two young women who, while venturing through the city's ...

'' (1937) * '' Viki'' (1937) * ''

Tales of Budapest ''Tales Of Budapest'' (Hungarian: ''Pesti mese'') is a 1937 Hungarian comedy film directed by Béla Gaál and starring Ida Turay, Antal Páger and Gyula Kabos. It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. The film's sets were designed by th ...

'' (1937) * ''

Family Bonus ''Family Bonus'' (Hungarian: ''Családi pótlék'') is a 1937 Hungarian comedy film directed by Jenö Csepreghy and starring Magda Kun, Steven Geray and Gerö Mály.Juhász p.72 It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest. Cast * Magda Kun as ...

'' (1937) * ''

Hotel Springtime ''Hotel Springtime'' (Hungarian: ''Hotel Kikelet'') is a 1937 Hungarian comedy film directed by Béla Gaál and starring Anna Tõkés, Ida Turay and Antal Páger.Rîpeanu p.105 Location shooting took place around the city of Pécs. The film's ...

'' (1937) * ''

The Wrong Man ''The Wrong Man'' is a 1956 American docudrama film noir directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Henry Fonda and Vera Miles. The film was drawn from the true story of an innocent man charged with a crime, as described in the book ''The True S ...

'' (1938) * '' Roxy and the Wonderteam'' (1938) * ''

Serenade In music, a serenade (; also sometimes called a serenata, from the Italian) is a musical composition or performance delivered in honour of someone or something. Serenades are typically calm, light pieces of music. The term comes from the Ital ...

'' (1940) * ''

'' (1953) * '' Ball at the Savoy'' (1955)

Works

* ''Zenebona'' (together with other composers) Operette in 3 acts, 2 March 1928, Budapest. Libretto: László Lakatos and István Bródy * ''Az utolsó Verebély lány'' Operette, 3 acts (also known as ''Az elsö Verebély lány'' or ''Der Gatte des Fräuleins'') 13 October 1928 Libretto: Imre Harmath and Gábor Drégely * ''Szeretem a felségem'' (Es geschehen noch Wunder) Magyar Színház 15 June 1929, Libretto:

André Birabeau André Birabeau (6 December 1890 – 1 October 1974) was a French novelist, playwright and screenwriter. Novels and short stories * ''La débauche'' (1924), English trans. ''Revelation'' (1930). Cited as the first novel about a homosexual man f ...

and Georges Dolley (after: Stella Adorján) * ''

'' (''Victoria and her Hussar''), Operette, 3 acts and prologue. 21 February 1930 Budapest, Operettentheater. Libretto: Imre Földes and Imre Harmath (German: Alfred Grünwald and

Fritz Löhner-Beda Fritz Löhner-Beda (24 June 1883 – 4 December 1942), born Bedřich Löwy, was an Austrian librettist, lyricist and writer. Once nearly forgotten, many of his songs and tunes remain popular today. He was murdered in Auschwitz III Monowitz conce ...

) * '' Die Blume von Hawaii'' (''The Flower of Hawaii''), Operette 3 acts, 24 July 1931 Leipzig, Neues Theater. Libretto: Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda, after Imre Földes * '' Ball im Savoy'', Operette in 3 acts and prologue. 23 December 1932 Berlin,

Großes Schauspielhaus The Großes Schauspielhaus (Great Theater) was a theater in Berlin, Germany, designed by architect Hans Poelzig for theater director Max Reinhardt. The structure was built as a market hall in 1867 and then served as a circus and event venue. Poel ...

. Libretto: Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda. English: ''Ball at The Savoy'', 8 September 1933 London,

Drury Lane Theatre The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dru ...

* ''Märchen im Grand-Hotel'', Lustspieloperette 3 acts 29 March 1934 Vienna,

Theater an der Wien The is a historic theatre in Vienna located on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district. Completed in 1801, the theatre has hosted the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music. Since 2006, it has served prim ...

. Libretto: Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda * '' Viki'', Music comedy in 3 acts, 26 January 1935 Magyar Színház, Libretto: Imre Harmath and Adorján Bónyi * ''Történnek még csodák'', Music comedy in 3 acts 20 April 1935 Magyar Színház, Libretto: Imre Halász and

István Békeffy István Békeffy (August 31, 1901 – June 9, 1977) was a Hungarian screenwriter and playwright. He was married to the actress Ida Turay from 1926. In 1957, following the failed Hungarian Revolution, he moved to Switzerland and wrote screenplays ...

* ''Dschainah, das Mädchen aus dem Tanzhaus'', Operette 3 Acts. 21 December 1935 Vienna, Theater an der Wien. Libretto: Alfred Grünwald and Fritz Löhner-Beda * ''3:1 a szerelem javára'' Operette in 2 Acts 18 December 1936 Király Színház, Libretto: Imre Harmath, Dezső Kellér and László Szilágyi * ''Roxy und ihr Wunderteam'', Musikalischer Fußballschwank, 25 March 1937 Vienna, Theater an der Wien, Libretto:

Hans Weigel Julius Hans Weigel (29 May 1908, Vienna – 12 August 1991, Maria Enzersdorf) was an Austrian Jewish writer and a theater critic. He lived in Vienna, except during the period between 1938 and 1945, when he lived in exile in Switzerland. He wa ...

and Alfred GrünwaldAngela Eder, essay on this Football Operetta
* ''Julia'', Operette in 2 parts and a Nachspiel, 23 December 1937 Városi Színház Budapest, Libretto: Imre Harmath and Imre Földes * ''A Fehér hattyu'' Operette 3 acts (''The White Swan''), 1938 * ''Zwei glückliche Herzen'' Libretto: Robert Gilbert and Armin L. Robinson. Premiere date unknown * ''Tambourin'' Musical in 2 parts (unperformed) Libretto: Alfred Grünwald

References

External links

Biography

Paul Abraham biographical homepage

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abraham, Paul 1892 births 1960 deaths 20th-century Hungarian classical composers 20th-century Hungarian male musicians Hungarian opera composers Hungarian operetta composers Jewish opera composers Hungarian male opera composers People from Apatin

Career

Selected filmography

Works

References

Further reading

External links