Frederick Loewe
A composer who wrote several musical plays for Broadway, Frederick Loewe was notorious for not liking his own work. He collaborated with such Broadway legends as Earle Crooker and Alan Jay Lerner. Among his noted works are My Fair Lady, Camelot, and The Little Prince.
Born in Berlin to Viennese parents, Loewe was the son of an actor and an opera tenor. A quick learner, he began playing the piano at the age of five and composing for his father at the age of seven. When he was 13, he became the youngest pianist to perform with the Berlin Symphony. Katrina, a song composed by Frederick Loewe at 15, sold more than one million copies of sheet music. With confidence and a grand talent, Loewe traveled to America.
He began performing concerts in the United States in 1924. Although his talent and compositions were favorably received, he decided to perform in a Yorkville bar. This experience helped the young performer realize what it was that people enjoyed. After ten years of taking menial jobs in the United States, Loewe decided to broaden his professional music career by writing plays and musicals. In 1934, he contributed music for the Broadway hit Petticoat Fever. In 1937 he teamed up with Earle Crooker to compose his first musicals Salute to Spring and Great Lady. It was also in the early years of his career that he joined with lyricist Alan Jay Lerner. Together the two collaborated on such Broadway sensations as My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Brigadoon. Their play, Paint Your Wagon, was hailed by critics as being one of the most well written with tone poems. After Camelot, Lerner and Loewe went their separate ways to pursue solo careers. Realizing the success of their partnership, the two reunited in 1973. They collaborated to bring their 1958 musical Gigi to the stage. In addition the two wrote the score for the play and film The Little Prince. Loewe's musical career lasted more than 40 years. He collaborated with other well-known lyricists and composers. With a determination to succeed, he left Vienna at the ripe age of 20 to pursue a Broadway career in a place he had never been to before. During his career, he collaborated and worked on numerous Broadway musicals, all of which were successful and are still performed on Broadway today. Despite the fact that Loewe did not like his own work, all of his compositions were successful. He spent much of his life in Cannes, France after leaving the United States. He performed concerts and tours worldwide. He died in 1988 in Palm Springs, CA at the age of 83.
© Kim Summers /TiVo
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Discography
16 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Camelot (The 2023 Broadway Cast Recording)
Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Film Soundtracks - Released by Broadway Records on 2 Jun 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
My Fair Lady (2018 Broadway Cast Recording)
Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
Film Soundtracks - Released by Broadway Records on 8 Jun 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bande Originale du film "My Fair Lady" (1964)
Film Soundtracks - Released by Sony Classical on 1 Jan 1964
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lerner & Loewe's Brigadoon (New York City Center 2017 Cast Recording)
Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Film Soundtracks - Released by Ghostlight Records on 7 Dec 2018
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
My Fair Lady (Complete Recording All Star Studio Cast) (DigiMIX Remaster 2022)
Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Film Soundtracks - Released by JAY Records on 3 Mar 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Fair Lady (2001 Cast London Recording)
Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Film Soundtracks - Released by First Night Records on 1 Jul 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brigadoon (2005 Studio Cast Recording)
Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Film Soundtracks - Released by JAY Records on 30 Jul 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gigi (Original 1985 London Cast Recording)
Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Film Soundtracks - Released by First Night Records on 31 Dec 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brigadoon (Original Soundtrack) [1954]
Film Soundtracks - Released by Classic Soundtrack Collector on 16 Dec 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gigi (All Star Studio Cast)
Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
Film Soundtracks - Released by Jay Records on 17 Oct 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brigadoon
Film Soundtracks - Released by OBX Records on 9 Feb 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Musicality of Lerner and Loewe
Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Film Soundtracks - Released by JAY Records on 5 Feb 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lerner & Loewe's Brigadoon (New York City Center 2017 Cast Recording)
Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Film Soundtracks - Released by Ghostlight Records on 7 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Camelot (Original Broadway Cast 1960)
Broadway Majestic Theatre Orchestra, Broadway Majestic Theatre Chorus
Film Soundtracks - Released by Classic Soundtrack Collector on 3 Dec 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lerner, Loewe, Lane & Friends
Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe, Burton Lane
Musical Theatre - Released by Concord Theatricals Recordings on 24 Mar 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gigi (Original Cast Soundtrack)
André Previn, The MGM Studio Orchestra
Film Soundtracks - Released by Sunday Club Records on 23 May 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo