Richard Traubner
Encyclopedia
Richard Traubner is an American journalist, author, operetta
scholar and historian, and lecturer on theatre and film. His book on the history of operetta was first published in 1983 and won the 17th annual ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award. Traubner is a frequent contributor to Opera News
, The New York Times
, The Economist
and many other publications. He frequently provides notes for recordings and operetta productions. He has translated, directed and designed many European operettas. In 2000 and 2001, he was the designer in residence at Ohio Light Opera
and has designed numerous productions for them since then.
, where he was president of the B. U. Savoyards. He received his Ph.D. from New York University
.
According to MusicWeb International, Traubner's book Operetta: A Theatrical History, first published in 1983, is "One of the best reference books of the Musical Theatre
.... Apart from [Kurt Gänzl]'s The British Musical Theatre and Musicals, there is no better book than this to dip into for acquiring a perspective on shows or the activity surrounding a particular production. Of especial interest... is the valuable detail Traubner gives about composers' backgrounds, training and career structure.... Traubner... writes in an easy style". John Kenrick
calls the book "The ultimate love letter to operetta, with superb scholarship throughout." The book "is still the definitive work on the subject". American Record Guide calls it "the standard work on the subject". The Gramophone
wrote:
Traubner lives in New York City.
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
scholar and historian, and lecturer on theatre and film. His book on the history of operetta was first published in 1983 and won the 17th annual ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award. Traubner is a frequent contributor to Opera News
Opera News
Opera News is an American classical music magazine. It has been published since 1936 by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, a non-profit organization located at Lincoln Center which was founded to support the Metropolitan Opera of New York City...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
and many other publications. He frequently provides notes for recordings and operetta productions. He has translated, directed and designed many European operettas. In 2000 and 2001, he was the designer in residence at Ohio Light Opera
Ohio Light Opera
The Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
and has designed numerous productions for them since then.
Biography
Traubner attended Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, where he was president of the B. U. Savoyards. He received his Ph.D. from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
According to MusicWeb International, Traubner's book Operetta: A Theatrical History, first published in 1983, is "One of the best reference books of the Musical Theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
.... Apart from [Kurt Gänzl]'s The British Musical Theatre and Musicals, there is no better book than this to dip into for acquiring a perspective on shows or the activity surrounding a particular production. Of especial interest... is the valuable detail Traubner gives about composers' backgrounds, training and career structure.... Traubner... writes in an easy style". John Kenrick
John Kenrick (theatre writer)
John Kenrick is an American author, teacher and theatre and film historian. Kenrick is an adjunct teacher of musical theatre history at New York University, Brind School – University of the Arts and The New School, and lectures frequently on the subject elsewhere...
calls the book "The ultimate love letter to operetta, with superb scholarship throughout." The book "is still the definitive work on the subject". American Record Guide calls it "the standard work on the subject". The Gramophone
The Gramophone
Gramophone is a magazine published monthly in London by Haymarket devoted to classical music and jazz, particularly recordings. It was founded in 1923 by the Scottish author Compton Mackenzie...
wrote:
Traubner lives in New York City.
Works
- Operetta, 2nd edition, London: Routledge, 2003, ISBN 0-415-96641-8
- The Great movie series, contributing editor, South Brunswick: A. S. Barnes (1971) ISBN 0-498-07847-7
- The Metropolitan Opera Guide to Opera on Video, Contributor, Paul Gruber (ed.) (1997) ISBN 0-393-04536-6
- Morin, Alexander J. and Harold C. Schonberg (Traubner, contributor). Classical Music: the listener's companion, Hal Leonard Corporation (2002) ISBN 0-87930-638-6