Reizenstein, Franz (Theodor)

Reizenstein, Franz (Theodor) , German-born English pianist, teacher, and composer; b. Nuremberg, June 7, 1911; d. London, Oct. 15, 1968. He studied piano with Leonid Kreutzer and composition with Hindemith at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin (1930–34). With the advent of the anti-Semitic Nazi regime, he went to England, where entered the Royal Coll. of Music in London and studied with Lambert and Vaughan Williams (1934—36); then took private piano lessons with Solomon (1938–40). He was an instructor in piano at the Royal Academy of Music in London (1958–68), and from 1962 until his death, at the Royal Manchester Coll. of Music. He wrote music of fine neo-Romantic quality.

Works

DRAMATIC: Radio Opera: Men against the Sea (1949); Anna Kraus (1952). ORCH.: Cello Concerto (1936); Prologue, Variations and Finale for Violin and Orch. (1938; originally for Violin and Piano); 2 piano concertos: No. 1 (1941) and No. 2 (1956–61; London, June 7, 1961, composer soloist); Cyrano de Bergerac, overture (1951); Serenade in F for Wind Ensemble and Double Bass or for Small Orch. (1951); Violin Concerto (1953); Concerto for Strings (1966–67; London, Jan. 17, 1969). CHAMBER: Sonata for Solo Cello (1931; rev. 1967); Theme, Variations and Fugue for Clarinet Quintet (1932; rev. 1960); Wind Quintet (1934); Divertimento for String or Brass Quartet (1936–37); Oboe Sonatina (1937); Partita for Flute and String Trio (1938); Violin Sonata (1945); Cello Sonata (1947); Piano Quintet (1948); Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Piano (1949); Fantasia concertante for Violin and Piano (1956); Trio for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1963); Concert Fantasy for Viola and Piano (1956); Sonata for Solo Viola (1967); Sonata for Solo Violin (1968); 2 piano sonatas (1944, 1964). VOCAL: Genesis, oratorio (1958); Voices of Night, cantata (1950–51).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire