Ernst Krenek

Austrian-born American composer Ernst Heinrich Krenek began his life in Vienna on 23 August 1900. He studied in Vienna and in Berlin with Franz Schreker.

At the start of his career he conducted in several opera houses in Germany.

He became known for his 'jazz opera' Jonny spielt auf (Jonny Strikes Up), completed in 1926. He was intimidated by the Third Reich until he moved to the USA in 1938.

He taught music at various universities in the USA, moving several times, and also living in Toronto, Canada and teaching there at the Royal Conservatory of Music in the 1950s.

He initially wrote in a neo-Romantic style, sometimes influenced by jazz, but then abandoned this for Schoenberg's twelve-tone method.  Later he used some ramdomness, and later still wrote in a freer style. He was also known for completing works by other composers - particularly Mahler and Schubert.

Ernst Krenek died in Palm Springs, California, USA on 22 December 1991, aged ninety-one.

 

A selection of articles about Ernst Krenek

Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney - Joy!

Resounding Echoes by Robert McCarney - The Obscure Wait

Ensemble. Melody and Mayhem - The English Symphony Orchestra's New Year's Eve offering, heard by Alice McVeigh

CD Spotlight. Fluent Inventiveness - Viola sonatas by Gál and Krenek, recommended by Howard Smith. '... remarkable high standards.'