Rathaus, Karol (1895–1954)

Polish-born US composer. He studied with Franz Schreker in Vienna and followed him to Berlin when Schreker became director of the Hochschule für Musik, where Rathaus taught 1925–33. In 1934 he took refuge in London from the Nazi regime and later settled in the USA, becoming a US citizen in 1946.

Works Opera and stage the opera Strange Soil (1930); ballets The Last Pierrot (1927), and Lion amoureux (1937); incidental music to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, Gutzkow's Uriel Acosta, Hebbel's Herodes und Mariamne Orchestral three symphonies (1921–43), overture, serenade, suites, Four Dance Pieces, Kontrapunktisches Triptychon (1934), Jacob's Dream, Polonaise symphonique for orchestra; concertino for piano and orchestra; suite for violin and orchestra.

Chamber Little Prelude for trumpet and strings; five string quartets; two trios for violin, clarinet, and piano.

Other film music, including The Brothers Karamazov (1931) and The Dictator (1934), choral works.