Kollo(real name, Kollodziejski), (Elimar) Walter

Kollo(real name, Kollodziejski), (Elimar) Walter, noted German composer, grandfather of René Kollo; b. Neidenburg, Jan. 28, 1878; d. Berlin, Sept. 30, 1940. He studied at the Sondershausen Cons. He began his career writing songs and cabaret music, and also was active as a theater conductor. After working in Königsberg and Stettin, he settled in Berlin and composed several theater pieces before attaining notable success with his musical comedy, Filmzauber (Oct. 19, 1912). It soon was performed internationally with great success. Then followed another outstanding score, Wie einst im Mail (Oct. 4, 1913; in collaboration with W. Bredschneider). After composing Der Juxbaron (Hamburg, Nov. 14, 1913), Kollo produced a series of remarkably successful Berlin scores, including Extrablätter (Oct. 24, 1914; in collaboration with Bredschneider), Immer feste druff! or Gloria Viktoria (Oct. 1, 1914), Wenn zwei Hochzeit machen (Oct. 23, 1915; in collaboration with Bredschneider), Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (Sept. 9, 1916; in collaboration with Bredschneider), Der selige Balduin (March 31, 1916), Die tolle Komtess (Feb. 21, 1917), Die Gulaschkanone (Feb. 23, 1917), Drei alte Schachteln (Nov. 6, 1917), Blitzblaues Blut (Feb. 9, 1918), and Sterne, die wieder leuchtet (Nov. 6, 1918). Following the success of Fräulein Puck (Munich, June 25, 1919), Kollo resumed composing for the Berlin theaters, producing such successful scores as Marietta (Dec. 22, 1923) and Drei arme kleine Mädels (April 22, 1927). During this same period, he also composed the music for several highly popular revues, among them Drunter und Drüber (1923), which included the hit song Solang noch Untern Linden. While Kollo continued to compose until his death, he never succeeded in attaining the success of his earlier years.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire