Leo Feld
Encyclopedia
Leo Feld was an Austrian librettist
, dramaturge
, stage director, and writer. He also worked as a translator for publishing companies, and was notably responsible for translating many of Charles Dickens
' English language works for their first German language publications.
Born with the name Leo Hirschfeld in Augsburg, he was the younger brother of libbretist Victor Léon and educator Eugenie Hirschfeld. He moved with his family to Vienna in 1875 and was educated at the University of Vienna
; earning a doctorate in philosophy in 1892. He began contributing articles to various Vienna based magazines while a college student. Two of his mentors in writing were Jakob Julius David
and Hermann Bahr
. His first play was awarded the Bauernfeld-Preis in the late 1890s. In 1900 he lived for some months in Berlin where he was actively working for the Überbrettl
literary society. He then worked as a dramaturge and stage director in Brunswick. One of his closest friends was the actor Josef Kainz
. He wrote opera libretti for composers Eugen d'Albert
, Erich Wolfgang Korngold
, and Alexander von Zemlinsky
. He died in Florence.
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in 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 liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
, dramaturge
Dramaturge
A dramaturge or dramaturg is a professional position within a theatre or opera company that deals mainly with research and development of plays or operas...
, stage director, and writer. He also worked as a translator for publishing companies, and was notably responsible for translating many of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' English language works for their first German language publications.
Born with the name Leo Hirschfeld in Augsburg, he was the younger brother of libbretist Victor Léon and educator Eugenie Hirschfeld. He moved with his family to Vienna in 1875 and was educated at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
; earning a doctorate in philosophy in 1892. He began contributing articles to various Vienna based magazines while a college student. Two of his mentors in writing were Jakob Julius David
Jakob Julius David
Jakob Julius David was an Austrian novelist and journalist.- Life :Jakob Julius David was born the son of a wealthy German-Jewish farmer in Moravia. The family soon moved to Fulnek, where the father died. David attended high schools in Kremsier and Opava. Here he fell ill in 1873 severely from...
and Hermann Bahr
Hermann Bahr
Hermann Bahr was an Austrian writer, playwright, director, and critic.-Biography:Born and raised in Linz, Bahr studied Philosophy, Law, Economics and Philology in Vienna, Czernowitz and Berlin. During a prolonged stay in Paris he discovered his interest in literature and art...
. His first play was awarded the Bauernfeld-Preis in the late 1890s. In 1900 he lived for some months in Berlin where he was actively working for the Überbrettl
Überbrettl
Überbrettl , later known as Buntes Theater , was the first venue in Germany for literary cabaret, or Kabarett, founded in Berlin in January 1901 by Ernst von Wolzogen. The German Kabarett concept was imported from France, from which it kept the characteristic atmosphere of intimacy...
literary society. He then worked as a dramaturge and stage director in Brunswick. One of his closest friends was the actor Josef Kainz
Josef Kainz
Josef Gottfried Ignaz Kainz was an Austrian actor of Hungarian birth. He was highly active in theatres in Austria and Germany from 1873–1910...
. He wrote opera libretti for composers Eugen d'Albert
Eugen d'Albert
Eugen Francis Charles d'Albert was a Scottish-born German pianist and composer.Educated in Britain, d'Albert showed early musical talent and, at the age of seventeen, he won a scholarship to study in Austria...
, Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was an Austro-Hungarian film and romantic music composer. While his compositional style was considered well out of vogue at the time he died, his music has more recently undergone a reevaluation and a gradual reawakening of interest...
, and Alexander von Zemlinsky
Alexander von Zemlinsky
Alexander Zemlinsky or Alexander von Zemlinsky was an Austrian composer, conductor, and teacher.-Early life:...
. He died in Florence.
Source
- "Leo Feld", Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950The Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950 , Austrian Biographical Dictionary 1815-1950, is a dictionary of biographical entries for individuals who have contributed to the History of Austria, published by the Austrian Academy of Sciences issued...