Walter Rabl
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Walter Rabl (30 November 1873 in
Life
Walter Rabl was born in Vienna and as a child became an excellent pianist. He attended the
Rabl returned to Vienna to study with Karl Navratil (1836-1914) and then enrolled in the doctoral program at the German University in Prague as a student of the musicologist Guido Adler. At 25, he completed his doctorate and soon after accepted a position at the Royal Opera of Dresden as coach and chorus master.
Beginning in 1903 Rabl conducted throughout Germany and championed works by progressive composers such as
After his retirement from conducting in 1924, he continued to use his impressive piano skills in accompanying and coaching many notable singers.
Chamber music
Rabl's
In 1899, Simrock published four additional pieces by Rabl: Four Songs, Op. 5; the Violin Sonata, Op. 6; Three Songs, Op. 7; and the Symphony, Op. 8.
His next series of compositions, Opp. 9–15, consisted entirely of songs. They were published in Leipzig by the house founded by Daniel Rahter (D. Rahter).[1]
Opera
Most of Rabl's work was in the tradition of Brahms and Robert Schumann. But his opera, Liane (1903) based on a romantic fairy tale took a different turn, a turn in the direction of Richard Wagner. Although the reception of the opera was highly favorable, Liane was Rabl's last work.[2]
Discography and works
- Twilight of the Romantics: Chamber Music by Walter Rabl and Josef Labor. Played by the Orion Ensemble. Released in 2006 by Cedille Records (CDR 90000 088).
- Quartet for Violin, Cello, Clarinet and Piano, Op. 1 (together with chamber music by Brahms and Zemlinsky). Played by the Ensemble Kontraste. Released in 1993 by Thorofon (THO 2368).
- Fantasiestücke for Piano trio op. 2
- Sonata for Violin and Piano in D major Op. 6
- Symphony in D minor, Op. 8
Sources
- Twilight of the Romantics, Program notes by Bonnie Campbell
- Strauss, John F. (ed.) (1996), "Walter Rabl: Complete instrumental chamber works". Madison, Wisconsin: A-R Editions. ISBN 9780895793324.
References
- ^ the later songs were generally published after the premiere of the opera, generally around 1905; see e.g. a 1905 notice of publication of the Op.13 set of songs.
- ^ Strauss, pp.viii-ix.