Short bio Egon Wellesz
Birthday:
1885 in Vienna, Austria
Died:
1974 in Oxford, England
Active:
1910s - 1960s
Genre:
Classical
Period:
Modern
Full biography Egon Wellesz
Egon Joseph Wellesz (1885-1974) was an Austrian-born composer, teacher, and musicologist, who later became a British citizen. He was a very prominent figure in the European music scene during the 20th century, and wrote music in a variety of genres, including symphonies, operas, chamber music, and vocal works.
Wellesz studied musicology with Guido Adler and composition with Arnold Schoenberg in Vienna. He then went on to teach at the University of Vienna, where he became a professor of musicology in 1929. During his tenure there, he published many influential books on music, including works on Oriental and Byzantine music, and a biography of Schoenberg.
As a composer, Wellesz was deeply rooted in the Viennese musical tradition, but he also experimented with atonal and dodecaphonic music. Some of his most well-known works include his nine symphonies, the opera "Alcestis," and the cantata "Lamentations of Jeremiah."
Wellesz was highly respected in the music community and counted some of the most influential figures of the time as his friends and colleagues, including Alban Berg, Anton Webern, and Bruno Walter. In fact, Wellesz wrote the first monograph on Schoenberg, and his research into Byzantine music was highly regarded, earning him the nickname "the Byzantine Wellesz."
Despite his many achievements in the realm of music, Wellesz's legacy has often been overshadowed by some of his contemporaries. Nevertheless, his contributions to the music world are significant, and he stands as an important figure in the development of 20th-century music.
Compositions featuring Egon Wellesz
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Symphony No. 8, Op. 110 | 23:23 min | Symphony | 1969 |
| 2 | Symphonischer Epilog, Op. 108 | 11:35 min | Symphony | 1969 |
| 3 | Symphony No. 7, Op.102 | 18:58 min | Symphony | 1968 |
| 4 | Offertorium in Ascensione Domini, for chorus & organ | 2:31 min | Choral | 1965 |
| 5 | Miniatures (5), for violin & piano, Op. 93 | 14:21 min | Chamber Music | 1965 |
| 6 | Symphony No. 6, Op.95 | 23:31 min | Symphony | 1965 |
| 7 | Ode an die Musik, for baritone (or alto) & chamber orchestra, Op. 92 | 5:37 min | Vocal Music | 1965 |
| 8 | To Sleep, for chorus & organ, Op. 94 | 6:39 min | Choral | 1965 |
| 9 | Partita in honorem J. S. Bach, fo organ | 16:36 min | Keyboard | 1965 |
| 10 | Missa Brevis, for chorus & organ, Op. 89 | 11:42 min | Choral | 1963 |
| 11 | Four Songs of Return, for soprano & chamber orchestra, Op. 85 | 16:18 min | Vocal Music | 1961 |
| 12 | Suite for clarinet solo, Op 74 | 9:03 min | Chamber Music | 1956 |
| 13 | Symphony No. 5, Op. 75 | 28:59 min | Symphony | 1955 |
| 14 | Symphony No. 4 ("Symphonia Austriaca"), Op.70 | 28:09 min | Symphony | 1952 |
| 15 | Symphony No. 3, Op. 68 | 34:19 min | Symphony | 1950 |
| 16 | Octet for clarinet, horn, bassoon, string quartet & double bass, Op. 67 | 30:44 min | Chamber Music | 1948 |
| 17 | I Sing of a Maiden, for chorus & organ | 2:23 min | Choral | 1945 |
| 18 | Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 62 | 36:08 min | Symphony | 1945 |
| 19 | Suite for violin & piano, Op. 56 | 11:28 min | Chamber Music | 1937 |
| 20 | Leben, Traum und Tod, songs (2) for voice & orchestra, Op. 55 | 8:18 min | Vocal Music | 1936 |
| 21 | Lied der Welt, for voice & orchestra, Op. 54 | 3:06 min | Vocal Music | 1936 |
| 22 | Sonnets from the Portuguese, for soprano & string quartet, Op. 52 | 19:32 min | Vocal Music | 1934 |
| 23 | Mass, for chorus & organ in F minor, Op. 51 | 32:59 min | Choral | 1934 |
| 24 | Tanzstücke (5), for piano, Op. 42 | 15:00 min | Keyboard | 1927 |
| 25 | Pieces (2) for clarinet & piano, Op. 34 | 3:28 min | Chamber Music | 1922 |
| 26 | Movement (Satz) for chamber orchestra | 1:05 min | Orchestral | 1920 |
| 27 | Persisches Ballett, ballet in one act, Op. 30 | 19:13 min | Ballet | 1920 |
| 28 | Geistliches Lied (Sacred Song) for medium voice, violin, viola & piano, Op. 23 | 9:34 min | Vocal Music | 1918 |
| 29 | Lieder aus der Fremde (Songs From Far-off Places), for voice & piano, Op. 15 | 3:32 min | Vocal Music | 1913 |
| 30 | Eklogen, suite for piano, Op.11 | 11:19 min | Keyboard | 1912 |
| 31 | Vorfrühling, for orchestra, Op. 12 | 7:34 min | Orchestral | 1912 |
| 32 | Sommernacht, for voice & chamber orchestra | 7:09 min | Vocal Music | 1912 |
| 33 | Kirschblütenlieder (Cherry Blossom Songs), for voice & piano, Op. 8 | 6:50 min | Vocal Music | 1911 |
| 34 | Suite for violin & chamber orchestra, Op. 38 | 11:11 min | Concerto | - |
| 35 | Piece for piano | 2:22 min | Keyboard | - |
| 36 | Studien in Grau, for piano, Op. 106 | 11:18 min | Keyboard | - |
| 37 | Triptychon, for piano, Op.98 | 5:19 min | Keyboard | - |
| 38 | Tänze (3) for piano, Op. 10 | 7:02 min | Keyboard | - |
| 39 | Variation on a Waltz by Franz Schubert, for piano | 2:52 min | Keyboard | - |
| 40 | Violin Concerto, Op. 84 | 29:37 min | Concerto | - |
| 41 | Wie ein Bild, for voice & piano, Op. 3 | 10:40 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 42 | Lieder aus Wien, Op.82 | 6:49 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 43 | Der Abend, 4 impressions for piano, Op. 4 | 20:05 min | Keyboard | - |
| 44 | Die Bakchantinnen, opera | 106:53 min | Opera | - |
| 45 | Divertimento for small orchestra, Op.107 | 12:33 min | Orchestral | - |
| 46 | Epigramme, for piano, Op. 17 | 14:43 min | Keyboard | - |
| 47 | Gaillarde, for piano | 2:48 min | Keyboard | - |
| 48 | Idyllen, for piano, Op. 21 | 22:17 min | Keyboard | - |
| 49 | Klavierstücke (3) for piano, Op. 9 | 10:33 min | Keyboard | - |
| 50 | Klavierstücke (5) for piano, Op. 83 | 10:57 min | Keyboard | - |
| 51 | Klavierstücke (6) for piano, Op. 26 | 12:40 min | Keyboard | - |
| 52 | Studien for piano, Op. 29 | 5:14 min | Keyboard | - |
| 53 | Lieder der Mädchen, Op. 7a | 6:30 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 54 | Piano Concerto, Op.49 | 22:07 min | Concerto | - |
| 55 | Couranten (2), for piano | 1:59 min | Keyboard | - |
| 56 | Prosperos Beschwörungen, for orchestra, Op. 53 | 31:08 min | Orchestral | - |
| 57 | Skizzen (3) for piano, Op. 6 | 4:41 min | Keyboard | - |
| 58 | String Quartet No. 3, Op. 25 | 29:30 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 59 | String Quartet No. 4, Op. 28 | 18:23 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 60 | String Quartet No. 6, Op. 64 | 14:33 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 61 | Studien (3) for piano, Op. 13 | 3:43 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Egon Wellesz
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Egon Wellesz - Veles Ensemble, Peter Cigleris, Gabriela Opacka-Boccadoro – Chamber Music(CD, ) | 2023 | Toccata Classics |
| 2 |  |
Zemlinsky · Wellesz · Webern · Kreisler - Auner Quartett – Versinkende Sonne(CD, Album) | 2021 | Gramola |
| 3 |  |
Berg / Wellesz - Emerson String Quartet, Renée Fleming – Lyric Suite / Sonnets By Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Op. 52(CD, Album) | 2015 | Decca |
| 4 |  |
Egon Wellesz, C. Goltz, P. Schöffler, F. Uhl, S. Draksler, K. Böhme, L. Welter, Miltiades Caridis – Die Bakchantinnen(2×CD, Album) | 2013 | Myto Historical Line |
| 5 |  |
Wiener Oktett, Benjamin Britten, Egon Wellesz, Henk Badings, Marcel Poot, Paul Hindemith – 20th-century Chamber Music(2×CD, ) | 2010 | Decca |
| 6 |  |
Egon Wellesz - Margarete Babinsky, David Frühwirth, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Roger Epple – Piano Concerto = Klavierkonzert - Violin Concerto = Violinkonzert(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2010 | Capriccio (2) |
| 7 |  |
Egon Wellesz - Whittlesey · Eröd · Hell · Ensemble Kontrapunkte · Peter Keuschnig – Persisches Ballett • Four Songs Of Return(CD, Album) | 2010 | cpo |
| 8 |  |
Egon Wellesz, Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Gottfried Rabl – Symphonies 1–9(Box Set, Compilation, 4×CD, Reissue) | 2008 | cpo |
| 9 |  |
Egon Wellesz, Artis Quartett Wien – String Quartets No.3 Op.25; No.4 Op.28; No.6 Op. 64(CD, Ambisonic) | 2008 | Nimbus Records |
| 10 |  |
Egon Wellesz - Margarete Babinsky – Das Klavierwerk (Gesamtaufnahme)(3×CD, Stereo) | 2006 | Capriccio (2) |
| 11 |  |
Egon Wellesz - Radio Symphonieorchester Wien, Gottfried Rabl – Symphonies 3 & 5(CD, Album) | 2004 | cpo |
| 12 |  |
Egon Wellesz, Regina Klepper, Sophie Koch, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Roger Epple – 20th Century Portraits: Egon Wellesz(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2004 | Capriccio (2) |
| 13 |  |
Egon Wellesz, Leopold Spinner, Berthold Goldschmidt, Peter Gellhorn, Vilem Tausky, Hans Gal, Mátyás Seiber, Franz Reizenstein, Karl Rankl, Ensemble Modern – Continental Britons - The Emigre Composers(2×CD, Album) | 2004 | Nimbus Records |
| 14 |  |
Egon Wellesz / Radio Symphonieorchester Wien, Gottfried Rabl – Symphonies 1 & 8; Symphonischer Epilog(CD, Album) | 2004 | cpo |
| 15 |  |
Egon Wellesz / Radio Symphonieorchester Wien, Gottfried Rabl – Symphonies 2 & 9(CD, Album) | 2003 | cpo |
| 16 |  |
Egon Wellesz - Radio Symphonieorchester Wien, Gottfried Rabl – Symphonies 4, 6 & 7(CD, Album) | 2002 | cpo |
| 17 |  |
Egon Wellesz - Thomas Mohr (2), Michael Burt, Harald Stamm, Roberta Alexander, Claudia Barainsky, Michelle Breedt, Hans Aschenbach, Jörg Gottschick, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Gerd Albrecht – Die Bakchantinnen(2×CD, Album) | 2001 | Orfeo (2) |
| 18 |  |
Kurt Weill / Egon Wellesz / Rudi Stephan - Stefan Tönz, Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, Jonathan Nott – Works For Violin And Orchestra(CD, Album) | 1999 | Pan Classics |
| 19 |  |
Egon Wellesz - Karl-Andreas Kolly, Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, Howard Griffiths – Piano Concerto, Piano Works(CD, Stereo) | 1998 | Pan Classics |
| 20 |  |
Egon Wellesz, Andrea Duka Löwenstein, Radio Symphonie Orchester Wien, Gerd Albrecht – Violinkonzert Op. 84 / Prosperos Beschwörungen Op. 53(CD, Album) | 1998 | Orfeo (2) |
| 21 |  |
Franz Schreker, Egon Wellesz, Christopher Norton-Welsh, Charles Spencer (2) – Lieder Von Franz Schreker Und Egon Wellesz(LP, Stereo, Mono) | 1985 | Preiser Records |
| 22 |  |
Hans Gal / Egon Wellesz – Idyllikon / Präludien Für Klavier / Prosperos Beschwörungen(LP) | 1985 | Amadeo |
| 23 |  |
Georgina Dobrée, Susan Bradshaw, Robert Schumann, Carl Reinecke, Xavier Lefèvre, Egon Wellesz, John Mayer (2) – Recital For Clarinet And Piano(LP) | 1984 | Chantry Records |
| 24 |  |
Musikprotokoll '82 - Steirischer Herbst(LP, Promo) | 1983 | ORF |
| 25 |  |
Robert Sylvester Plays Ysaye, Crumb, Wellesz, Hindemith – Robert Sylvester Plays Ysaye, Crumb, Wellesz, Hindemith(LP, Album) | 1974 | Desto |
| 26 |  |
Henk Badings, Egon Wellesz / The Vienna Octet – Octet / Octet, Op. 67 | 1972 | Ace Of Diamonds |
| 27 |  |
Wellesz • Cerha • Ligeti • Dimov • Hauer – Steirischer Herbst (Eine Dokumentation Aus Den Musikprotokollen 1969)(LP) | - | Amadeo |
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