Rudolf Wagner-Regeny

Full biography Rudolf Wagner-Regeny

Rudolf Wagner-Rgeny was a composer, conductor, and pianist born in Transylvania, Kingdom of Hungary, in 1903. He became a German citizen in 1930 and later became a professor of composition at the Berlin University of the Arts. Wagner-Rgeny is widely known for his contributions to German opera, and some of his most notable works include "The Beggars' Opera," "The Distant Sound," and "The Peaceful Summer Night."

In 1929, Wagner-Rgeny met Caspar Neher, who wrote the texts for his best-known operas. Wagner-Rgeny married a woman who was half-Jewish in 1935, which led to his suspension from work in 1938 due to the Nazis' anti-Semitic policies. He was able to resume his work after World War II, and in 1955, he was appointed as a professor of composition at the Berlin University of the Arts. In addition to his work in opera, Wagner-Rgeny was also involved in film and television music.

Wagner-Rgeny's work was influenced by a range of musical styles, from Classical and Baroque music to folk and jazz. He was also known for his use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies in his compositions. His contributions to German music have been well recognized, and he has received numerous awards for his work, including the Order of Merit of Berlin and the Sibelius Prize. Despite his contributions, Wagner-Rgeny's work was banned by the Nazis due to their belief that it was "degenerate."