Hamburg names park after exiled composer

Hamburg names park after exiled composer

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norman lebrecht

July 04, 2019

The operetta composer Paul Abraham, a fugitive from the Nazis who returned to Germany in the 1950s, is to have a section of the Grindelberg park named after him.

Abraham, originally from Budapest and Berlin, died in Hamburg in 1960.

 

We would like to see something named after Bethold Goldschmidt, who was Hamburg born and bred.

 

 

Comments

  • HugoPreuss says:

    The sad truth is probably that Abraham reached many, many more people with his music than Goldschmidt ever did with his… Still, while I’d love to see a “Bernhard-Goldschmidt-Straße” as well, I am also pleased that Hamburg honors another composer who had to become a refugee in order to survive.

  • The View from America says:

    Both would be appropriate, but Abraham is likely better known by the general populace because of his light operas (although as time marches on most Germans likely don’t know any of the tunes from something like “Viktoria und ihr Husar”).

  • fflambeau says:

    A rather third-rate talent with limited living experience in Hamburg. He was born in Serbia, studied music in Budapest and lived mostly in Berlin before going to Cuba, New York City and only for 3.5 years in Hamburg where he was receiving psychiatric care at his death.

    Who has even heard his two major works: Die Blume von Hawaii and Ball im Savoy?

    • Akutagawa says:

      “Who has even heard his two major works: Die Blume von Hawaii and Ball im Savoy?”

      Loads of people. The Staatsoper in Berlin did a charming production of Die Blume von Hawaii in their old props warehouse a few years ago, and the Barrie Kosky production of Ball im Savoy was a huge hit at the Komische Oper recently. I also saw Roxy und ihr Wunderteam, also by Paul Abraham, at the Komische Oper only last week, and the place was packed. I didn’t find any of it third rate at all, quite the contrary.

      • VIolinaccordion says:

        Victoria and her Hussar was a favourite of Hitler.
        Great melody, wonderful vocal writing,lush orchestrations . Natural highly musical successor to Lehar
        And more entertaining

    • Basia says:

      what a hateful post! Shame on you fflambeau (to ashamed to use your real name?)

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