Hugo Wolf

@Slovene Men, Facts and Childhood

Hugo Wolf was a late 19th century Austrian composer best known for his art songs

Mar 13, 1860

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Biography

Personal Details

  • Birthday: March 13, 1860
  • Died on: February 22, 1903
  • Nationality: Slovenian
  • Famous: Slovene Men, Musicians, Composers
  • Known as: Wolf, Hugo
  • Universities:
    • University of Music and Performing Arts
    • Vienna
  • Birth Place: Slovenj Gradec

Hugo Wolf born at

Slovenj Gradec

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Birth Place

His first love was Vally Franck, the daughter of one of his benefactors. Their relationship continued for three years before Vally left him.

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Personal Life

Later on, he fell in love with Melanie Kochert, the wife of his friend Heinrich Köchert. Their affair continued for many years and Melanie continued visiting Hugo Wolf till the end of his life. However, the guilt of her extra-marital affair weighed heavily on her heart and she killed herself.

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Personal Life

He had contracted syphilis in the late 1870s. Over the years the disease progressed and affected his health badly. He also suffered from depression as a result of this. During his later years he suffered from severe psychological issues and once even tried to commit suicide. Eventually he was placed in an asylum in Vienna where he died on 22 February 1903.

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Personal Life

Hugo Wolf was born on 13 March 1860 in Windischgrätz (now Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia), then a part of the Austrian Empire. His father was a leather dealer.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was musically inclined from childhood, and started learning piano and violin from his father at the age of four. He continued learning music in primary school and soon became preoccupied with music. He was not interested in learning any other subject and was thus expelled from school.

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Childhood & Early Life

Even though his father encouraged his early interest in music, he had hoped that Hugo would not choose to embark on a musical career. However, Hugo Wolf joined the Vienna Conservatory in 1875, disappointing his after.

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Childhood & Early Life

He studied at the conservatory for two years and here too he proved to be a difficult and rebellious student. He openly criticized his teachers and was very short-tempered because of which he was expelled from the conservatory.

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Childhood & Early Life

During this time he became acquainted with the composer Richard Wagner from whom he received considerable support and encouragement. Later on he met Johannes Brahms who also played a key role in motivating the young musician.

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Childhood & Early Life

He eventually took up a job of teaching music. Even though his temperament was not suited to this position, the fact that he possessed great musical skills made him a good teacher.

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Career

Though he was not able to earn much success initially, he received support from several people which enabled him to make a living as a composer.

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Career

He was in love with the daughter of one of his patrons and she inspired him to write music. It was during the course of this relationship that he began to develop a mature style of writing that would evolve over time.

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Career

He was appointed as the second Kapellmeister at Salzburg. Becoming a Kapellmeister was a mark of success for professional musicians of this time. In this position he was in-charge of music making and was also required to supervise other musicians.

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Career

Hugo Wolf’s temperament and moodiness prevented him from finding success in this position and he soon realized that he was not at all suited to the prestigious post of a Kapellmeister. After quitting his job as a Kapellmeister he returned to teaching in Vienna.

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Career