Weisgall, Hugo David (1912–1997)

Czech-born US composer. His family settled in the USA in 1920. He studied at the Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, and later with Sessions in New York and R Scalero at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. He taught at the Juilliard School 1957–68. His music admitted a wide range of influences (including neo-classical and serial) and his operas were particularly successful.

Works Opera Night (1932), Lillith (1934), The Tenor (1952), Six Characters in Search of an Author (after Pirandello, 1959), Athaliah (1964), Nine Rivers from Jordan (1968), The 100 Nights (1976), The Gardens of Adonis (1992, composed 1959), Esther (1994).

Ballet Quest, One Thing is Certain, Outpost.

Orchestral overture in F major for orchestra.

Other choral music; songs.