The Resume

(April 30, 1870-October 24, 1948)
Born in Komarom, Hungary (now Komarno, Slovakia)
Known for his operettas, including ‘The Merry Widow’ (1905), ‘Gipsy Love’ (1910), ‘Where the Lark Sings’ (1918), ‘Paganini’ (1925), and ‘The Land of Smiles’ (1929)

Why he might be annoying:

While he was studying violin at the Prague Conservatory, Anton Dvorak advised him to switch to composition, but the Conservatory rules prevented it.
He was the second choice for ‘The Merry Widow,’ brought in when the original composer was unable to get past the first act.
His efforts at grand opera were not as successful as his operettas.
He was one of Hitler’s favorite composers.
He gave Hitler a signed copy of the program from the premier of ‘The Merry Widow’ as a birthday present (1943).

Why he might not be annoying:

He was appointed the youngest bandleader in the Austrian-Hungarian army.
’The Merry Widow’ was so popular that during one year it played in five theaters in Buenos Aires simultaneously.
He refused when the Nazis ‘suggested’ he divorce his wife Sophie, a Jewish convert to Roman Catholicism.
He tried (unsuccessfully) to prevent the arrests of his librettist Fritz Lohner-Beda and singer Louis Treumann.
He said, ‘My conscience is clear. My ‘Merry Widow’ was Hitler’s favorite opera. That’s not my fault.’

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• An Asteroid was Named in My Honor (Ranked: 85317)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 76]
• Fiddlers
• I am Hungarian
• I Died in 1948 (Ranked: 78)
• Opera Singers and Composers
• Profiles 46751-47000 (Ranked: 46967)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 73 Votes: 56.16% Annoying