Krenek, Ernst (originally Křenek)

Composer, music writer

Born: 23.08.1900 in Vienna

Died: 22.12.1991 in Palm Springs (California)

Krenek received his first composition and piano lessons from Fridolin Balluff (1838-1918). In 1916, he became a student of Franz Schreker (1878-1934) at the Academy of Music in Vienna and moved with him to Berlin in 1920. His encounter with Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924), Arthur Schnabel (1882-1951) and others steered Krenek's musical language - until then characterized by late Romanticism - in new directions. From then on, counterpoint structures were combined with free tonal turns.

From 1925, Krenek was assistant to the artistic director Paul Bekker in Kassel and Wiesbaden. It was here that he experienced the premiere of his three one-act operas "Der Diktator", "Das geheime Königreich" and "Schwergewicht oder die Ehre der Nation" under the baton of general music director Josef Rosenstock (1895-1985) at the Staatstheater at the opening of the May Festival week in 1928. Here, the role models Puccini and Hindemith, but also stylistic elements of the theater of the 1920s - the contemporary opera of New Objectivity as well as light music and jazz - can be heard. The success of his opera "Jonny spielt auf" in 1927 secured Krenek's livelihood.

He returned to Vienna in 1928 and published in several musical journals from 1930 onwards. He took a firm stand against National Socialism. In 1938, Krenek emigrated to the USA and taught in Boston, among other places. In the 1950s, Krenek took part in the experiments of the Cologne Studio for Electronic Music and was a lecturer at the Darmstadt Summer Courses several times until 1958. Aleatoricism and serialism can be found in his works from this period.

He was awarded numerous memberships in international academies, honorary doctorates and honors, including honorary citizenship of the city of Vienna.