REIZEN STEIN, FRANZ

REIZEN STEIN, FRANZ (1911–1968), composer and pianist. Reizenstein was born in Nuremberg, and studied the piano at the Berlin State Academy with Leonid Kreutzer and composition with Hindemith. He settled in London in 1934, undergoing a further period of study-of composition with Vaughan Williams and the piano with Solomon. He was a prolific composer in a lucid, neo-classical style, his works always showing clarity of thought and neatness of design. They include: two radio operas – Men Against the Sea (1949) and Anna Kraus (1952); the cantata Voices of Night (1939), for soprano, baritone, chorus, and orchestra; concerto for cello, violin, and piano (the first performance of the Second Piano Concerto was in June 1961, with Reizenstein as soloist); much chamber music; and pieces for solo piano, songs, etc. Reizenstein taught composition at the Guildhall School of Music, London. (Max Loppert (2nd ed.)