Max Reinhardt

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Max Reinhardt

Role / Field:

Pioneering Austrian director, famed for avant-garde stagecraft and the Salzburg Festival.

Born:

1873-09-09

Died:

1943-10-30

Century / Era:

1873s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Max Reinhardt (German: [maks ˈʁaɪnhaʁt] ; born Maximilian Goldmann; 9 September 1873 – 30 October 1943) was an Austrian-born theatre and film director, intendant, and theatrical producer. With his radically innovative and avant-garde stage productions, Reinhardt is regarded as one of the most prominent stage directors of the early 20th century. For example, Reinhardt's 1917 stage premiere of Reinhard Sorge's Kleist Prize-winning stage play Der Bettler almost single-handedly gave birth to Expressionism in theatre and ultimately in motion pictures as well. In 1920, Reinhardt established the Salzburg Festival by directing an open air production of Hugo von Hofmannsthal's acclaimed adaptation of the Everyman Medieval mystery play in the square before the Cathedral with the Alps as a background.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

This remains an annual custom at the Salzburg Festival to this day. Toby Cole and Helen Krich Chinoy have dubbed Reinhardt, "one of the most picturesque actor-directors of modern times", and write that his eventual arrival in the United States as a refugee from the imminent Nazi takeover of Austria followed a long and distinguished career, "inspired by the example of social participation in the ancient...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1873 (1873-09-09): Birth of Max Reinhardt — Pioneering Austrian director, famed for avant-garde stagecraft and the Salzburg Festival.
2. 1917: 1917 Milestone — For example, Reinhardt's 1917 stage premiere of Reinhard Sorge's Kleist Prize-winning stage play Der Bettler almost single-handedly gave birth to Expressionism in theatre and ultimately in motion pictures as well.
3. 1920: 1920 Milestone — In 1920, Reinhardt established the Salzburg Festival by directing an open air production of Hugo von Hofmannsthal's acclaimed adaptation of the Everyman Medieval mystery play in the square before the Cathedral with the Alps as a background.
4. 1943 (1943-10-30): Passing & Historical Legacy — Max Reinhardt passed away on 1943-10-30, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Max Reinhardt

True or False: “Max Reinhardt's 1920 open-air production of Hofmannsthal's Everyman mystery play established an annual tradition at the Salzburg Festival.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): This specific staging, set in the Cathedral square with the Alps backdrop, remains a celebrated annual custom to this day.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. K. Fazlul Huq — Contemporary (Born in 1873) (1873): Pakistani statesman and jurist, known as Sher-e-Bangla, a founding father of Pakistan.
• Adam Sedgwick — Contemporary (Died in 1873) (1873): Pioneering British geologist and Anglican priest, co-founder of modern geology.
• Adolph Zukor — Contemporary (Born in 1873) (1873): Pioneering Hungarian-American film producer, co-founder of Paramount Pictures.
• Agustín Pedro Justo — Contemporary (Died in 1943) (1943): 18th President of Argentina, leading during the tumultuous Infamous Decade.
• Akaji Maro — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering Japanese butoh performer, director, and acclaimed film actor.
• Alan Rubin — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): American musician known for playing trumpet, flugelhorn, and piccolo trumpet.
• Adam Sandler — Shared historical date (09-09 · Born) (1966): Acclaimed comedian and actor known for his prolific career in Hollywood comedy.
• Afrojack — Shared historical date (09-09 · Born) (1987): Dutch DJ and record producer, known professionally as Afrojack.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Shared historical date (10-30 · Born) (1966): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Adelaide Anne Procter — Shared historical date (10-30 · Born) (1825): English poet and philanthropist known for her work on poverty and faith.
• 1873 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1873
• September 9 (09-09) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 9
• 1943 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1943
• October 30 (10-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 30

Frequently Asked Questions about Max Reinhardt