HUGO WOLF: A Biography

What may well be the definitive biography of the minor Viennese composer whose songs were the sunset glow of German lieder by an English author who has used all available documentary material and who was fortunate enough to interview those of Wolf's family and friends still living in Central Europe. Born in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1860, Wolf was educated first in his native village, later in Vienna where he spent the bulk of his brief life. Drawn into active participation in the Wagner-Brahms controversy that raged there in the late 19th century, Wolf became a disciple of the Beyreuth school, though he fortunately avoided the grandiose in his own composition. Although known chiefly as a masterly composer of song. Wolf was able to complete instrumental works as well (the operas Der Corregidor, Konig Alboin and incidental music to Ibsen's The Feast at Solhaug among others) before mental disturbance cut short his career and ultimately caused his death at the age of 43.