Franz Schreker (1878-1934)

Prelude to Die Gezeichneten • Prelude to Das Spielwerk

Symphonic Interlude from Act 3 of Der Schatzgräber

Symphonic Overture Ekkehard, Op. 12 • Fantastic Overture

There is no doubt that Franz Schreker has been seriously underestimated as a composer and this posthumous neglect may be attributed in good part to the misfortunes of his later career at a period when National Socialism was becoming increasingly important in Germany. Schreker’s career and his subsequent reputation were equally victims of Hitler.

Son of the Court Photographer, Schreker was born in Monaco in 1878 and travelled widely during his childhood. In 1892 he became a student at the Conservatory in Vienna, where he was taught composition by Robert Fuchs, and even as a student achieved some success. His Love Song for string orchestra and harp was played in London in 1896 by the orchestra of the Budapest Opera, and there were o