Adolph Hallis
Adolph Hallis (1896-1987) is a composer.
Contents
Biography
Born 4 July 1896 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to Joseph Hallis (c.1866-1939, a general merchant from Austria) and Clara Hallis née Lilien (c.1868-1942 from Poland). Parents take him to Vienna aged seven where he studies for two years with Paula Szalit (c.1886-1920, a pupil of Leschetizky). Public debut playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto K466 aged eight. Returns to South Africa taking further lessons from pianist and borough organist of Port Elizabeth Roger Ascham (1864-1934). Awarded overseas scholarship from the University Cape of Good Hope, studying at the Royal Academy of Music, London, under Oscar Beringer (1844-1922, a pupil of Moscheles and Tausig). Performs in Duke Hall RAM November 19137 and in Nottingham June 1914. Awarded Challen & Son gold medal (1914), Philip L. Agnew prize, Frederick Westlake prize and Alexander Roller prize (all for piano, 1915); also awarded Battison Haynes prize for composition. Returns to South Africa for the duration of WW1 teaching at Cape Town College of Music under its principal Professor W.F. Bell (1873-1946).
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Operas composed by Hallis include Jakaranda (1946), Port of Call (1943) and Love is Gold (1946).
Sources
Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1).
N. William Snedden. 'A Portrait of the Pianist Adolph Hallis (1896-1987)'. http://musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Aug/Hallis_article.pdf
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