Karol Rathaus

[1895-1959]

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"Karol Rathaus was born on 16 September 1895 in Tarnopol (now part of modern Ukraine called Ternipil). According to a 1910 census, Rathaus resided at 2688 Błonie Street with his parents Bernard, a veterinarian, and Amalie. Karol also had a half-brother Rudolf and a sister Dora. Rathaus’s musical gifts became apparent at an early age, much to the alarm of his father, when he began to play the piano by ear at age 5.  By the age of 7 young Rathaus was composing, and he completed a piece for orchestra by the time he was 14.  

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Although he was recognised in the early half of the 20th century as a master composer, Rathaus originally pursued formal studies in law, at the urging of his father, while pursuing music studies as an aside at the Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst (Imperial Academy of Music and the Performing Arts) in 1913. Young Rathaus excelled at his musical studies and by the end of his first year had completed the equivalent of a full 3-year programme.  During this burgeoning musical period Rathaus studied piano with Joseph Hofmann and counterpoint and choral composition with the figure that would have a great influence on the young apprentice: famed Austrian composer, conductor and teacher Franz Schreker."

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Excerpt from "Karol Rathaus" by Dr Ryan Hugh Ross, ORT Music and the Holocaust website

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For more information, please visit: 

https://holocaustmusic.ort.org/resistance-and-exile/karol-rathaus/

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