Franz Waxman
1906 - 1967
American
Summary
Franz Waxman was a German and American composer of Jewish descent, known primarily for his work in the film music genre. His 150 film scores include Bride of Frankenstein, Rebecca, Sunset Boulevard, A Place in the Sun, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Philadelphia Story, Rear Window, Crime in the Streets, The Spirit of St. Louis, Peyton Place, Sayonara, The Nun's Story, and Taras Bulba. He received twelve Academy Award nominations, and won two Oscars in consecutive years (for Sunset Boulevard and A Place in the Sun). He also received a Golden Globe Award for the former film. Bernard Herrmann said that the score for Taras Bulba was "the score of a lifetime."
He also composed concert works, including Sinfonietta for string orchestra and timpani (1955), the oratorio Joshua (1959), and The Song of Terezin (1965), a work for orchestra, chorus, and children's chorus based upon poetry written by children in the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II. His Carmen Fantasie on themes from Bizet's opera has had innumerable performances in its original version for violin and orchestra as well as in many transcriptions.
Waxman also founded the Los Angeles Music Festival in 1947 with which he conducted over 20 years; 70 World, American and West Coast premieres by Britten, Harris, Mahler, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Walton, among many others.
News
Performances
14th April 2023
- PERFORMERS
- Garland Symphony Orchestra
- CONDUCTOR
- Robert Carter Austin
- NOTES
- Performing 03:15 only.
- LOCATION
- Granville Arts Center, Garland , TX, United States of America
14th April 2023
- PERFORMERS
- Garland Symphony Orchestra
- CONDUCTOR
- Robert Carter Austin
- LOCATION
- Granville Arts Center, Garland , TX, United States of America
22nd April 2023
- SOLOISTS
- Johan Dalene, violin; Nicola Eimer, piano
- LOCATION
- Glynde Place, The St. Glynde, United Kingdom
23rd April 2023
- PERFORMERS
- Montgomery Philharnmonic
- CONDUCTOR
- MS. Sandra Ragusa
- LOCATION
- Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, Gaithersburg , MD, United States of America
28th April 2023
- PERFORMERS
- Muncie Symphony Orchestra
- CONDUCTOR
- Matthew Kraemer
- LOCATION
- Walton Performing Arts Center, Marion, IN, United States of America
Features
- Highlights from the Waxman Catalogue
- The catalogue of German American composer Franz Waxman is a formidable collection of work for the modern concert hall, encompassing not only the film scores for which he is best known, but concert works of great significance for orchestra, chorus, and chamber ensemble.