Nedbal, Oskar

Nedbal, Oskar, distinguished Czech violisi, conductor, and composer; b. Tábor, Bohemia, March 26, 1874; d. (suicide) Zagreb, Dec. 24, 1930. He was a pupil of Bennewitz (violin), Knittl and Stecker (theory), and Dvorak (composition) at the Prague Cons., where he graduated in 1892. From 1891 to 1906 he played viola in the famous Bohemian String Quartet; from 1896 to 1906 he conducted the Czech Phil.; from 1906 to 1918 he was conductor of the Tonkiinstler-Orch. in Vienna; later was director of the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava (1923–30) and a conductor with the Radio there (1926–30). He was a notable interpreter of Czech music, and also was admired for his fine performances of the standard repertory.

Works

dramatic: opera:Sedlak Jakub (Peasant Jacob; 1919–20; Brno, Oct. 13, 1922; rev. version, Bratislava, Dec. 15, 1928). o p e r e t t a: Die keusche Barbora (Vienna, Oct. 7, 1911); Polenblut (Vienna, Oct. 25, 1913); Die Winzerbraut (Vienna, Feb. 11, 1916); Die schöne Saskia (Vienna, Nov. 16, 1917); Eriwan (Vienna, Nov. 29, 1918). ballet:Pohádka o Honzovi (Legend of Honza; Prague, Jan. 24, 1902); Z pohádky do pohádky (From Fairy Tale to Fairy Tale; Prague, Jan. 25, 1908); Princezna Hyacinta (Prague, Sept. 1, 1911); Des Teufels Grossmutter (Vienna, April 20, 1912); Andersen (Vienna, March 1, 1914).other:Scherzo Caprice for Orch. (1892); piano pieces.

Bibliography

J. Kvët, O. N. (Prague, 1947); M. Sulc, O. N. (Prague, 1959); A. Büchner, O. N.: Zivot a düo (O N.: Life and Works; Prague, 1976).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire