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, experience the greatest success and meet great love. The heyday of the Viennese operetta is associated with his name, he forever went down in the history of music as the creator of bright, optimistic and funny works, although his biography was often deprived of joy.
Childhood
The man whom we know today under the name Imre Kalman was born on October 24, 1882 in the small town of Siofok on Lake Balaton. His real name was Emmerich Koppstein. While still at school, he changed his Jewish surname to a more neutral Kalman. The boy's father was a completely prosperous bourgeois, the family lived in abundance, two more children grew up in it besides Imre. However, a few years after the appearance of the youngest son, Karl Koppstein got the idea to make a prosperous resort out of his town. He invested a lot of money in the construction of a hippodrome, an operetta theater, several hotels. But all this was not profitable, and Kalman's father had to sink into debt. It all ended sadly: his property was confiscated for debts, and his family was forced to move to Budapest. Soon the head of the family sent Imre to live in the care of an aunt.
Education
At 10 years old, the boy was sent to two schools at once: a classical gymnasium and a music school. Despite poverty, for Imre bought a used piano, on which he practiced every free minute. But soon the financial situation worsened 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 study music on his own. Poverty made him a shy and unsociable young man, but he developed a business acumen. Thanks to his persistence, Imre Kalman was able to enter the music school. He even began to give concerts that brought him fame and low income.
However, a tragic failure awaited him again: having re-engaged in preparation for a musical competition, Imre injured his little finger, which had stopped forever expanding. I had to forget about playing music. Imre Kalman moved to the composition class, on the advice of a professor, he began to write symphonic works. But they did not have success. Nevertheless, he was able 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 graduate from two educational institutions, becoming a lawyer and a certified musician.
Search for yourself
In order to earn a living, Imre Kalman began writing critical articles for a music column in a newspaper as a student. At the end of the academy, he went to work for the newspaper, as he categorically did not want to be a lawyer. Relatives really hoped that he would go to law, and when it turned out that this was not so, he lost any financial support. And again he had to work with a double load: during the day he writes for the newspaper, and in the evenings he writes music. His critical work brought him minimal income, he could not afford anything extra. But he was glad that he could attend any concerts and theaters according to his position, since he could not afford tickets.
Composer's path
Even at the academy, Imre Kalman writes serious musical works: symphonic music, piano pieces and even songs and couplets. But no one wanted to publish and perform his compositions. Once a musician even in despair joked that he would get to the point that he would begin to compose operettas.
In 1905, luck smiled at Kalman, he won the Budapest Academy of Music award for a cycle of songs. This money allowed him to spend 6 weeks in Berlin. There, the composer went around all the music publishers, hoping to publish songs, but this did not happen. In despair from poverty and the categorical rejection of his music, composer Imre Kalman decides to turn to the "low genre" - operetta.
Success
The beginning of the 20th century was marked by a deep operetta crisis. In 1899, the “Waltz King” Johann Strauss died, who wrote popularly beloved operettas for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For ten years this genre has died and died. And Imre Kalman, whose musical works categorically did not find recognition and approval, at that time was losing faith in himself and was tormented by lack of money. Angry with the whole world, including himself, the composer locked himself in a rented apartment in the suburbs of Graz to write good music, and the first operetta, Autumn Maneuvers, came out from under his pen. The premiere of the work took place 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 operetta, and a little later the well-deserved success awaited the composer in Berlin and Hamburg. Kalman moves to live in Vienna and gets to work.
From this moment, Kalman begins to create operettas very productively, some of them were successful, some did not stand the test of time. But still he was able to gain fame and fortune. He became a well-to-do person, and all this thanks to his hard work and talent. Success continued until 1933. In 1932, the whole of Vienna enthusiastically applauded the maestro on the day of his 50th birthday. He was awarded a variety of prizes and prizes. But in 1933, the composer's professional happiness came to an end.
Operettas
Starting to write operettas, Kalman develops his own style. His works sparkle with joy. Apparently, in them he splashed out all his hopes and dreams, which accumulated a lot during his 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 on, the musician increasingly believes that he has found his way. He begins to collaborate 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 operetta, his wealth is growing, he can finally stop worrying about tomorrow. In 1921, the premiere of Bayaderes took place, in 1924, the 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. There was a place in it for everything that the audience loved so much, arias from this work were sung everywhere. Since the action of the operetta partially takes place in Russia, it is not surprising that one of the first productions took place in Moscow.
The Violet of Montmartre expected no less success, it was shown in Vienna a record number of times - 170! But the beginning of the 30s became difficult for Europe and Austria, the Nazis came to power, and Kalman was a Jew. He again had to worry about his life.
Emigration
In 1938, Imre Kalman, whose biography is full of difficulties and trials, was forced to leave Austria. First he leaves for Paris, where he receives the Legion of Honor, then in the USA. He lived in America for 11 years, suffered a stroke there and, at the insistence of his relatives, returned to Europe, settling in Paris. During emigration, Kalman creates only two operettas - “Marinka” and “Arizona Lady”, which no longer had such success as the earlier works of the composer.
Creative heritage
The works of Imre Kalman are known around 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 USA. In addition, several symphonic and piano works by the composer have been preserved. The best creations of Kalman are considered to be the operettas Gypsy Premier, Queen of the Chardash, Countess Maritsa, Princess of the Circus, and Violet of Montmartre.
Three loves of Imre Kalman
Imre Kalman had a very interesting personal story, in his life there were three strong passions. The composer was, in general, a plain-looking man: short in stature, large bald patches already at a young age, gloomy, notorious. Nothing foreshadowed him much success with the opposite sex.
His first big love was Paula Dvorak, a beauty, an operetta actress. He first saw her on the day of the triumphal premiere of his first operetta in Vienna. Kalman Imre put a lot of effort into conquering the heart of the diva, she was 10 years older than him, their romance was dizzying. But Paula did not want to marry the composer. She knew that she would never have children. She took care of Imra, cooked for him, provided comfort, and he was pleased with such a life. He worked hard, she was there. But the idyll is over. After 18 years of marriage, Paula died of tuberculosis. The grief of the composer knew no bounds. During their novel, he created his best operettas.
While still alive, Paula was thinking about how Kalman would live without her. She constantly inspired him with the idea that he would marry a young woman who would give birth to his children. To this end, she introduced him to the bright actress of aristocratic origin, Agnes Esterhazy. Feelings flared up between the composer and the actress. After Paula’s death, Kalman hoped to marry Agness. He bought her a mansion, fell asleep with flowers and gifts. But once he learned about the infidelity of a friend, he could not forgive her for this.
In 1940, Kalman met a very young emigrant from Russia, Vera Makinskaya, who was trying to become a film actress. The composer was overwhelmed by her youth and beauty. He married Vera, but the marriage was not happy, although three children were born in him. Vera was passionate about parties, expensive purchases, novels, but not Kalman. Imre forgave her everything, begged him not to leave him, was engaged in children. There was simply no time for him to write, and inspiration ceased to visit him.
Last years
After a stroke in 1949, Kalman was partially paralyzed. His life was difficult, he took care of children, tried to write music, but he did not succeed. Returning to Paris in 1950, Imre Kalman tries to work, creates 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 old, Imre Kalman was fond of music, he spent hours under the windows with the professor, violinist, when he was studying. Later, he trained in playing the piano for 16 hours a day, which led to injury.
Interestingly, Kalman was a very healthy and sensible person. But he was panicky afraid of Fridays and the number "13". He never appointed a premiere on the 13th, believed that his lucky number was "17", and tried to see his operettas for the first time on such days. He also believed that operettas should have female names, only then they would be guaranteed success.