The chamber opera Der Kaiser von Atlantis remains the most notable achievement of Viktor Ullmann, a composer whose career spanned from the sophisticated concert halls of Vienna to the restrictive environment of Theresienstadt. His creative output encompassed a wide range of musical forms, establishing him as a significant figure within the Second Viennese School during the early twentieth century.
Formative Years and Musical Education
Born in 1898 in Cieszyn, Ullmann moved to Vienna in 1909 to attend a gymnasium. His introduction to music theory, counterpoint, and orchestration occurred under the guidance of Arnold Schoenberg in 1918. While he briefly pursued law studies at the University of Vienna, his commitment shifted definitively toward composition and performance. He eventually settled in Prague, where he served as a conductor at the New German Theatre under the mentorship of Alexander von Zemlinsky.
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Ullmann maintained an active career as a conductor, pianist, and journalist throughout the 1920s and 1930s. His work as a music critic and educator included involvement with the Czechoslovak Society for Music Education and a period of study in quarter-tone music with Alois Hába at the Prague Conservatory. His compositions transitioned from the atonal influence of Schoenberg toward a distinct personal style characterized by dissonant harmonics and formal structural control, exemplified by his String Quartet No. 2.
The Theresienstadt Period
Deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in September 1942, Ullmann remained musically prolific. He performed as a piano accompanist, organized concerts for the Studio for New Music, and composed twenty distinct works during his imprisonment. Despite the extreme conditions, he collaborated with other musicians like Karel Ančerl and Gideon Klein to sustain a rigorous cultural program. He was transferred to the Auschwitz II-Birkenau concentration camp in October 1944, where he died shortly thereafter.
Fast facts
- Born: 1898, Cieszyn
- Died: 1944, Auschwitz II-Birkenau
- Primary Occupation: Composer
- Key Affiliation: Second Viennese School
- Education: University of Vienna
- Notable Work: Der Kaiser von Atlantis
- Citizenship: Austria
Questions readers ask
What is the subject of Der Kaiser von Atlantis?
It is a chamber opera written during Ullmann's time at Theresienstadt; its libretto was provided by Peter Kien.
Did Ullmann have a career as a soloist?
Although he was a highly skilled pianist, he possessed no professional ambitions to work as a soloist.
Achievements
- Notable work: Der Kaiser von Atlantis
- Educated at University of Vienna
- Worked as composer, conductor and pianist
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