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Universal Edition Celebrates Ernst Krenek's Life and Legacy on the 125th Anniversary of his Birth

Aug. 28, 2025

"A composer between tradition and modernity," Austrian-American composer Ernst Krenek (1900-1991) was known for his remarkable stylistic diversity and willingness to experiment. Born in Vienna, he began his music studies in 1916 under Franz Schreker at the Vienna Music Academy. After World War I, he continued his education in Berlin, connecting with prominent musicians such as Ferruccio Busoni and Hermann Scherchen. Krenek's oeuvre spans nearly all musical movements of the 20th century, from late Romanticism and atonality to serialism and electronic music. In 1938, he emigrated to the United States, where he continued his career as a composer and educator until his death. Some of Krenek's major works include his Jazz-inspired opera Jonny spielt auf (1926), the first twelve-tone opera, Karl V (1931-33), a melodious song cycle, Reisebuch aus den österreichischen Alpen (1929), Lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae (1941-42), a choral work fusing contrapuntal traditions with twelve-tone technique, and Spiritus intelligentiae sanctus (1956) for choir and electronic tape.


Krenek Opera Shorts: Ernst Krenek, Jonny spielt auf, op. 45 | Ernst Krenek Institut

To learn more about Ernst Krenek and explore his catalogue of works, visit universaledition.com.

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