Gruenberg, Louis (1884–1964)

US pianist and composer. His most successful work was the opera Emperor Jones, premiered at the New York Metropolitan Opera House in 1933 with Lawrence Tibbett in the title role.

Gruenberg was born in Russia and was taken to the USA at the age of two. He studied in Berlin, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, where he was a piano pupil of Ferruccio Busoni. He first appeared as a pianist in Berlin in 1912 and then began to travel, but from 1919 remained in the USA to devote himself wholly to composition.

Works Opera The Bride of the Gods (1913; libretto by Busoni), The Dumb Wife, Jack and the Beanstalk, Emperor Jones (after Eugene O'Neill, 1933), Helena of Troy (1936); children's opera The Witch of Brocken; radio opera Green Mansions (after W H Hudson; 1937).

Orchestral five symphonies, The Hill of Dreams (1921), Enchanted Isle, Serenade for orchestra; violin concerto.

Voice and orchestra The Daniel Jazz (V Lindsey), Animals and Insects, and The Creation for voice and chamber orchestra.

Chamber Four Indiscretions for string quartet, two string quartets, two sonatas for violin and piano; piano pieces.