Ralph Benatzky

Ralph Benatzky (5 June 1884 – 16 October 1957), born in Moravské Budějovice as Rudolf Josef František Benatzki, was an Austrian composer of Czech[1] origin (when Benatzky was born Bohemia was part of the Austrian Empire; Benatzky mostly worked in Vienna). He composed operas and operettas, such as Casanova (1928), Die drei Musketiere (1929), Im weißen Rössl (1930) and Meine Schwester und ich (1930). He died in Zürich, Switzerland.

Ralph Benatzky
Benatzky on a 1984 Austrian postage stamp

Works
Ralph Benatzky's grave in St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut
  • Laridon (1911)
  • Cherchez la femme (1911)
  • Der lachende Dreibund (1913)
  • Anno 14 (1914)
  • Prinzchens Frühlingserwachen (1914)
  • Liebe im Schnee (1916)
  • Die tanzende Maske (1918)
  • Die Verliebten (1919)
  • Apachen (1920)
  • Ein Märchen aus Florenz (1923)
  • Casanova, with music by Johann Strauss II (1928)
  • Die drei Musketiere (1929)
  • Im weißen Rößl (1930)
  • Meine Schwester und ich (1930)
  • Zur goldenen Liebe (1931)
  • Zirkus Aimée (1932)
  • Büxl (1932)
  • Bezauberndes Fräulein (1933)
  • Reichste Mann der Welt (1935)
  • Der König mit dem Regenschirm (1935)
  • Axel an der Himmelstür (1936)
  • Majetät – Privat (1937)
  • Herzen im Schnee (1937)
  • Der Silberhof (1941)

Selected filmography

Notes

Benatzky is often mistakenly referred to as Jewish due to an error published in a book of Jewish musicians during World War II. Benatzky himself was not Jewish, but he was twice married to Jewish women: Josma Selim, a singer (Hedwig Josma Fischer; born 1884 in Wien; died 1929 in Berlin) and Melanie "Mela" Hoffmann, a dancer.[2][3][4]

References
  1. Oxford Dictionary of Music, 2nd edition (1994), p. 78: "Benatzky, Ralph": "Czech composer"
  2. Theophil Stengel, Herbert Gerigk: Lexikon der Juden in der Musik. Mit einem Titelverzeichnis jüdischer Werke. Zusammmengestellt im Auftrag der Reichsleitung der NSDAP auf Grund behördlich, parteiamtlich geprüfter Unterlagen. Hahnefeld, Berlin 1940. There were entries for both women, but not one for Ralph Benatzky.
  3. Michael Hans Kater: The Twisted Music. Musicians and Their Music in the Third Reich. Oxford University Press, New York 1999.
  4. Fred K. Prieberg: Handbuch Deutsche Musiker 1933–1945. CD-ROM edition, Kiel, 2004, p. 370
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