Wolf, Hugo

1860-1902

 

Recent Viennese composer; an author whose works are growing in appreciation. He was born and died in Vienna. At the age of five he studied violin and piano with his father, later was a pupil at the Vienna Conservatory, devoted himself to composition. He was the author of a great many songs, about five hundred; the successful comic opera Der Corregidor; male choruses; choric works with orchestra, Die Christnacht and Der Feuerreiter. His songs, characterized by great originality, have made him famous. The distinguished critic, Mr. Ernest Newmann, places Hugo Wolf at the head of the song-writers of the world, surpassing Schubert and Schumann in full expression of the spirit of the song, the meaning of the poet; declares Wolf surpasses all other songwriters to the same extent and for the same reasons that Wagner surpasses all other musical dramatists.