Paul Breisach (1896–1952). Austrian conductor. Numerous recordings of his conducting exist, including opera arias with Melchior in 1924 and 1925; in the early 1930s he was a conductor at the Städtische Oper in Berlin: a recording exists of his conducting Hans Gál’s ballet Scaramouche there in 1931, and he conducted the first performance of Schreker’s Der Schmied von Gent (disrupted by anti-Semitic riots) in 1932. He emigrated later in the 1930s. His debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York was of Aida in 1941 and his last performance there of Die Walküre in 1946; recordings exist of him conducting The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni at the Met in 1943 (GHCD 2203/4/5; GHCD 2236/37), and also works by Debussy, Duparc and others. He was a pupil of Schenker’s from October 1913 for some years, and his lessons are recorded in Schenker’s Lesson Books (OC 3)—it is noticeable that Schenker devoted time in lessons with him to the orchestral repertory. He was also apparently a pupil of Schreker. One postcard from him to Schenker survives (OC 44/14), and one letter to Jonas (OJ 36/99). He is mentioned in other letters as follows: OJ 5/18, 43, June 24, 1934 (Schenker to Jonas) OJ 5/18, 59, October 16, 1934 (Schenker to Jonas) (Sources: New Grove 2 ; Oster Collection Finding List; Oswald Jonas Memorial Collection Checklist; various websites) |
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| Paul Breisach (1896–1952). Austrian conductor. Numerous recordings of his conducting exist, including opera arias with Melchior in 1924 and 1925; in the early 1930s he was a conductor at the Städtische Oper in Berlin: a recording exists of his conducting... | |