Zeisl, Eric Erich#
b. Vienna, May 18, 1905, d. Los Angeles, USA, Feb. 18, 1959, composer. Began his studies at the Vienna Musikhochschule at the age of 14, studied with R. Stoehr, J. Marx and H. Kauder. First compositions at the age of 16. Awarded the Austrian State Prize for his "Requiem concertante" in 1934; fled to the USA in 1939 since he feared persecution on account of his Jewish descent, taught from 1949 at the Los Angeles City College. His œuvre is in the tradition of Late Romanticism and, particularly after having left Austria, based on themes taken from the Bible.
Further works#
Operas: Die Fahrt ins Wunderland, 1934; Leonce und Lena, 1937; Job (unfinished). - Ballets: Pierrot in der Flasche, 1935; Uranium 235, 1946; Naboth´s Vineyard, 1953; Jacob and Rachel, 1954. - Lieder, orchestral and chamber music.Literature#
M. Cole and B. Barclay, Armseelchen. The Life and Music of E. Zeisl, 1984.