Imre Kalman: biography and interesting facts

The great composer Imre Kalman, whose operettas are staged in the best musical theaters around the world, lived a life full of work and creativity. He had to overcome many difficulties, to experience the greatest success and to meet great love. With his name associated with the flowering of the Vienna operetta, he forever went down in the history of music as the creator of bright, optimistic and funny works, although his biography was often devoid of joy.

Childhood

The man we now know as Imre Kalman was born, October 24, 1882 in the small town of Siófok on Lake Balaton. He was really called Emmerich Koppstein. At school he changed his Jewish name to a more neutral Kalman. The father of the boy was quite successful bourgeois, the family lived in prosperity, in it grew two more children except Imre. However, a few years after the appearance of the youngest son, Karl Koppstein came up with the idea of making a prosperous resort out of his town. He invested a lot of money in the construction of a racetrack, an operetta theater, several hotels. But all this did not bring profit, and Father Kalman had to plunge into debt. Everything ended sadly: his property was confiscated for debts, and the family was forced to move to Budapest. Soon the head of the family sent Imre to live in the care of his aunt.

Education

At the age of 10, the boy was immediately sent to two schools: a classical gymnasium and a music school. Despite the poverty, for Imre bought a second-hand piano, on which he practiced every spare minute. But soon the financial situation deteriorated so much that the young man had to leave school and go to work. He began to give lessons in Latin and Greek to high school students and continued to engage in independent music. Poverty made him a shy and unsociable young man, but he developed a business grasp. Due to his persistence, Imre Kalman was able to enter the music school. He even began to give concerts, which brought him fame and a small income.

However, a tragic failure awaited him again: after perezanimavshis in preparation for the musical competition, Imre damaged the little finger, which forever ceased to unbend it. I had to forget about making music. Imre Kalman moved to the class composition, on the advice of the professor he began to write symphonic works. But they had no success. He still managed to graduate from college and entered the music academy. At the insistence of relatives Kalman also had to enter the law faculty. Thanks to incredible efforts, he was able to complete two educational institutions, becoming a lawyer and a certified musician.

Finding Yourself

To earn money for existence, Imre Kalman, even in his student years, begins to write critical articles for a musical column in the newspaper. At the end of the academy, he went to work in the newspaper, because he categorically did not want to be a lawyer. Relatives very much hoped that he would go to law, and when it turned out that it was not so, he lost any financial support. And again he had to work with a double load: in the daytime he writes for the newspaper, and in the evenings he writes music. His critical work brought him a minimum income, he could not afford anything extra. But he was happy that he could attend any concerts and theaters because he could not afford tickets.

The composer's way

Even in the academy Imre Kalman writes serious musical works: symphonic music, piano pieces and even songs and couplets. But nobody wanted to publish and perform his compositions. One day the musician even in despair joked that he would get so far as to start composing operettas.

In 1905, luck smiled at Kalman, he won the Budapest Music Academy Award for a cycle of songs. This money allowed him 6 weeks to spend in Berlin. There the composer went around all the music publishers hoping to publish the songs, but this did not happen. In desperation from poverty and categorical non-recognition of his music, the composer Imre Kalman decides to turn to the "low genre" - the operetta.

Success

The beginning of the 20th century was marked by a deep crisis of the operetta. In 1899 the "Waltz King" Johann Strauss died, who wrote popularly loved operetta for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For ten years this genre has been consumed and perished. And Imre Kalman, whose music works categorically did not find recognition and approval, at that time lost faith in himself and suffered from lack of money. Completely angry with the whole world, including himself, the composer is locked in a rented apartment in the suburbs of Graz to write good music, and from under his pen comes the first operetta - "Autumn Maneuvers." The premiere of the work was held in Budapest, and when the reception was more than warm, Kalman decided to show it in the capital. In 1909, Vienna applauded the new genius of the operetta, and a little later deserved success waited for the composer in Berlin and Hamburg. Kalman moves to live in Vienna and starts work.

From this moment, Kalman starts producing operettas very productively, some of them were successful, some did not stand the test of time. But still he was able to get fame and fortune. He became a well-off person, and all this thanks to his diligence and talent. Success lasted until 1933. In 1932, the entire Vienna enthusiastically applauded the maestro on the day of his 50th anniversary. He was awarded various prizes and prizes. But in 1933 the professional happiness of the composer came to an end.

Operetta

Starting to write operettas, Kalman develops his own style. His works sparkle with joy. Apparently, in them he poured out all his hopes and dreams, which accumulated a lot during a difficult life. In 1912 he created the work "Gypsy Premier", in which the composer's innovation was fully expressed: Hungarian folk melodies, mixed composition, dynamic action. Despite the fact that this work was not destined to experience success, nevertheless from this time the musician increasingly believes that he has found his way. He begins to cooperate with professional librettists and works tirelessly.

In 1915, Imre Kalman, whose "Silva" became a real sensation, is widely recognized. He becomes a recognized master of the operetta, his wealth grows, he can finally stop worrying about tomorrow. In 1921 the premiere of "Bayadera" was held, in 1924 - "Maritsa". The composer firmly took the place of the leading musician of Vienna, the capital of music chose a new king.

In 1926, the operetta, created by Imre Kalman, "The Princess of the Circus", became his real triumph. In it there was a place for everything that the public loved so much, the arias from this work sang everywhere. Since the action of the operetta is partly taking place in Russia, it is not surprising that one of the first productions took place in Moscow.

No less success was expected and the "Vial of Montmartre", it was shown in Vienna a record number of times - 170! But the early 1930s became difficult for Europe and Austria, the fascists came to power, and Kalman was Jewish. He again had to worry about his life.

Emigration

In 1938 Imre Kalman, whose biography is full of difficulties and trials, is forced to leave Austria. First he goes to Paris, where he receives the Order of the Legion of Honor, then - in the US. He lived 11 years in America, suffered a stroke there and, at the insistence of his relatives, returned to Europe, settling in Paris. During the emigration Kalman creates only two operettas - "Marinka" and "Arizona Ladies", who no longer had such success as the composer's earlier works.

Creative heritage

Imre Kalman's works are known all over the world today. Although he wrote only 17 operettas. Of these, 9 became part of the repertoire of many musical theaters not only in Europe, but also in the United States. In addition, several symphonic and piano pieces of the composer were preserved. The best works of Kalman are the operetta "Gypsy Premier", "The Queen of the Chardasha", "Countess Maritza", "The Princess of the Circus", "The Violet of Montmartre".

Three love of Imre Kalman

Imre Kalman had a very interesting personal story, in his life there were three strong passions. The composer was, in general, an ordinary-looking man: a small growth, large bald patches already at a young age, gloomy, notorious. Nothing foreshadowed him of great success with the opposite sex.

His first great love was Paula Dvorak - a beauty, an actress of an operetta. For the first time, he saw her on the day of the triumphant premiere of her first operetta in Vienna. Kalman Imre put a lot of energy into conquering the heart of the diva, she was 10 years older than him, their romance was dizzying. But married to the composer Paula did not want to go out. She knew that she would never have children. She cared about Imra, cooked for him, provided coziness, and he was pleased with such a life. He worked very hard, she was close. But the idyll is over. After 18 years of living together, Paula died of tuberculosis. The composer's grief was unlimited. During the time of their novel, he created his best operettas.

Even during life, Paula thought about how Kalman would live without her. She constantly inspired him with the idea that he would marry a young woman who would give him children. To this end, she introduced him to the brilliant actress of aristocratic origin Agnes Esterhazy. Between the composer and the actress, feelings broke out. After the death of Paula, Kalman hoped to marry Agnes. He bought her a mansion, showered flowers and gifts. But once I learned about the infidelity of a friend, she could not forgive her that.

In 1940, Kalman became acquainted with a very young emigre from Russia, Vera Makinskaya, who was trying to become a movie actress. The composer was overwhelmed by her youth and beauty. He married Vera, but the marriage was not happy, although it was born of three children. Vera was carried away by parties, expensive purchases, novels, but not by Kalman. Imre forgave her everything, begged not to leave him, engaged in children. There was no time to write to him, and inspiration did not stop him.

Last years

After a stroke in 1949, Kalman was partially paralyzed. His life was difficult, he was engaged in children, tried to write music, but it did not turn out well. Returning in 1950 to Paris, Imre Kalman is trying to work, creating the last operetta, which became a complete failure of the composer. On October 30, 1953, Kalman died. He was buried in Vienna, the city of his triumph.

Interesting Facts

As early as 4 years, Imre Kalman was fond of music, he spent hours at the window with a professor, a violinist, when he was engaged. Later, he trained in the game on the piano for 16 hours a day, which led to injury.

It is interesting that Kalman was a very sensible and reasonable person. But he was panic-stricken about Fridays and the number "13". He never appointed a premiere on the 13th, felt that his lucky number was "17", and he tried to show his operetta for the first time on such days. He also believed that operettas should be women's names, only then they succeeded.