March 23, 1878:
Franz August Julius Schrecker is born in the Principality of Monaco, second (and eldest surviving) of five children of Ignaz (Isak) Schrecker, Jewish Imperial and Royal Court Photographer, and Eleonore von Clossmann, descended from Austrian Catholic nobility.
July 18, 1896:
Love Song for string orchestra and harp by Franz Schreker (18) is performed for the first time, in London. It is the first public performance of any music by Schreker.
March 4, 1899:
König Tejas Begräbnis for male chorus and orchestra by Franz Schreker (20) is performed for the first time, in Döbling.
March 29, 1900:
An Andante for orchestra (from the Symphony in a minor op.1) by Franz Schreker (22) is performed for the first time, in Vienna, directed by the composer.
June 10, 1900:
The 116th Psalm for women’s chorus and orchestra by Franz Schreker (22) is performed for the first time, as part of his graduation ceremony from Vienna Conservatory.
April 24, 1902:
Flammen, an opera by Franz Schreker (24), to words of Leen, is given it’s first performance, in concert with piano, at the Bösendorfersaal, Vienna.
December 9, 1902:
Intermezzo for string orchestra by Franz Schreker (24) is performed for the first time, in Vienna. It won a competition sponsored by the Neue musikalische Presse.
March 1, 1903:
Symphonic Overture to Ekkehard by Franz Schreker (24) is performed for the first time, in Vienna.
April 7, 1903:
Schwanengesang for chorus and orchestra by Franz Schreker (25) to words of Leen is performed for the first time, in Vienna, conducted by the composer.
March 10, 1908:
The first lieder recital devoted entirely to the works of Franz Schreker (29) takes place in Vienna.
June 27, 1908:
Der Geburtstag der Infantin, a pantomime by Franz Schreker (30) to his own story after Wilde, is performed for the first time, in Vienna.
November 9, 1909:
Franz Schreker (31) marries the soprano Maria Binder, daughter of a hotel owner, in Vienna.
November 25, 1909:
The Act III interlude “Nachtstück” from Franz Schreker’s (31) unfinished opera Der ferne Klang is performed for the first time, in Vienna. The audience is incensed and make various loud noises of disapproval. See 18 August 1912.
March 2, 1910:
Der Wind, a Tanzallegorie by Franz Schreker (31) to a story by Wiesenthal, is performed for the first time, in Vienna.
December 9, 1911:
Friede auf Erden op.13 for acappella chorus by Arnold Schoenberg (37) to words of Meyer, is performed for the first time, in Vienna, Franz Schreker (33) conducting.
March 7, 1912:
The Phantastische Ouvertüre op.15 by Franz Schreker (33) is performed for the first time, in Vienna.
August 18, 1912:
Der ferne Klang, an opera by Franz Schreker (34) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Frankfurt-am-Main. The work immediately establishes his reputation.
September 17, 1912:
Franz Schreker (34) is named teacher of music theory and composition at the Vienna Academy of Music.
February 23, 1913:
Gurre-Lieder, for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra by Arnold Schoenberg (38) to words of Jacobsen (tr. Arnold), is performed for the first time, in the Musikvereinsaal, Vienna, under the baton of Franz Schreker (34). There is a 15-minute standing ovation at the conclusion. Anton von Webern (29) is released from the sanitarium in order to attend the concert.
March 15, 1913:
The premiere of Franz Schreker’s (34) opera Das Spielwerk und die Prinzessin, to his own libretto, takes place simultaneously at the Vienna Hofoper and in Frankfurt-am-Main. Critics like the music but not the words.
October 20, 1913:
Romantische Suite op.14 for orchestra by Franz Schreker (35) is performed for the first time, in Vienna.
February 8, 1914:
Vorspiel zu einem Drama for orchestra by Franz Schreker (35) is performed for the first time, in Vienna.
March 12, 1917:
Kammersymphonie by Franz Schreker (38) is performed for the first time, at the Vienna Academy.
April 25, 1918:
Die Gezeichneten, an opera by Franz Schreker (40) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Frankfurt-am-Main.
July 12, 1919:
Alois Hába (26) graduates from the second year at the Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna. He was a student of Franz Schreker (41).
January 21, 1920:
Der Schatzgräber, an opera by Franz Schreker (41) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Frankfurt-am-Main. Dedicated to the City of Frankfurt and its opera house, the work is an overwhelming success.
June 30, 1920:
Alois Hába (27) completes his third and last year as a student of Franz Schreker (42) at the Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna. Schreker recommends to Universal Edition that Hába’s String Quartet be published.
June 21, 1921:
In a concert of students of Franz Schreker (43) in the Konzertsaal of the Staatliche Akademische Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, Ernst Krenek’s (20) Sonata for violin and piano op.3 is performed for the first time, the composer at the keyboard.
March 27, 1924:
Irrelohe, an opera by Franz Schreker (46) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Cologne. Despite the glittering event, the critical response is tepid.
October 5, 1925:
Franz Schreker (47) travels to the Soviet Union for 18 days as a guest of the government there. He conducts in Leningrad and Moscow.
January 22, 1927:
Spanisches Fest, a revision of Der Geburtstag der Infantin, a pantomime by Franz Schreker (48) to his own story after Wilde, is performed for the first time, in Staatsoper unter den Linden, Berlin.
December 10, 1928:
Der singende Teufel, an opera by Franz Schreker (50) to his own words, is performed for the first time, at the Berlin Staatsoper. The audience seems to like it but critics will savage it. The opera is a failure.
January 17, 1929:
Kleine Suite for chamber orchestra by Franz Schreker (50) is performed for the first time, in a nationwide broadcast over German radio.
April 14, 1929:
Vom ewigen Leben for soprano and orchestra by Franz Schreker (51) to words of Whitman is performed for the first time, in Leipzig.
December 5, 1931:
Vier kleine Stücke for orchestra by Franz Schreker (53) is performed for the first time, in Krefeld.
May 25, 1932:
A tempestuous meeting takes place at the Berlin Musikhochschule over the appointment of Stefan Frenkel, a Jew, to a temporary position. Violinist Gustav Havemann demands that he be removed but the director of the school, Franz Schreker (54), denies the request claiming he has had no directive from the government concerning the hiring of Jews. But the machinations of Havemann will result in Schreker’s resignation within two weeks. He will be given a master class at the Prussian Academy of the Arts.
October 29, 1932:
Der Schmied von Gent, a grosse Zauberoper by Franz Schreker (54) to his own words after de Coster, is performed for the first time, at the Städtische Oper, Berlin. “The whole of Berlin’s literary and musical world was gathered together, politics and business sent their representatives, the nation, state, and city were represented by their highest dignitaries, and nearly all the opera directors of the German-speaking world were present.” The production receives enthusiastic applause but when Schreker appears, he is met with a torrent of whistles and catcalls.
March 18, 1933:
Arnold Schoenberg (58) and Franz Schreker (54) attend a meeting of the music section of the Prussian Academy of the Arts in Berlin for the last time. They are soon told that they will not remain in their present positions at the Academy.
May 23, 1933:
Arnold Schoenberg (58) and Franz Schreker (55) are sent an official confirmation that they are suspended from their positions at the Prussian Academy of the Arts. Their salaries will continue pending further notice.
May 30, 1933:
Arnold Schoenberg (58) and Franz Schreker (55) are placed on a “leave of absence” by the Prussian Academy of Arts.
September 21, 1933:
The German Ministry of Culture informs Franz Schreker (55) that he has been dismissed from the Prussian Academy of the Arts effective 31 December.
March 21, 1934:
Early morning. Franz August Julius Schreker dies of a heart attack in Berlin, Germany, two days before his 56th birthday. He has been bedridden since suffering a stroke last December.
March 23, 1934:
The mortal remains of Franz Schreker are laid to rest in Dahlem Cemetery, Berlin, on what would have been his 56th birthday. Not many people attend.
March 27, 1935:
Das Weib des Intaphernes, a melodrama by Franz Schreker (†1), is performed for the first time, at a memorial concert in Vienna.
March 11, 1958:
The Memnon Overture (Vorspiel zu einer grossen Oper) by Franz Schreker (†23) is performed for the first time, in Baden-Baden.
October 1, 1978:
Christophorus, oder Die Vision einer Oper, an opera by Franz Schreker (†44) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Freiburg, approximately 50 years after he composed it.
June 2, 1985:
Flammen, an opera by Franz Schreker (†51), to words of Leen, is staged for the first time, in Vienna.