Josma Selim

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Josma Selim (around 1918)

Josma Selim , actually: Hedwig Josma Fischer (born June 5, 1884 in Vienna , † August 25, 1929 in Berlin ), was an Austrian singer and diseuse .

Life

Josma Selim was a celebrated chansonnière when she met the composer Ralph Benatzky in 1914 . She wanted a song by Benatzky, a successful newcomer in the cabaret scene at the time , but he refused and Selim was accordingly offended. Later on there was a discussion and finally even a permanent collaboration, the success of which was to continue until Selim's untimely death in 1929.

In the years to come, both performed almost exclusively together, with Josma Selim presenting their vocal numbers succinctly with these words: “And now a Viennese song, 'I have to be in Grinzing again'. Music and words as in all of my songs by Doctor Ralph Benatzky. At the piano the composer. ”Even at home she is said to have reported with the words“ Here Josma Selim, at the piano the composer ”after they both married on November 15, 1914 in Vienna .

Benatzky wrote countless couplets and songs for his wife , a synthesis of the Viennese song and the French chanson . From then on both of them appeared with their own chanson program “Merry Muse” in the Viennese cabaret “Simplicissimus” and in guest performances in European capitals. The recipe for success of the celebrated artist couple was Benatzky's brilliant texts and his sophisticated melodies, which Josma Selim performed with charm and wit.

In 1924 the couple decided to move to Berlin "because of the better income opportunities" , as Selim wrote to her mother. They last appeared together in Vienna in 1928. “A marital crisis eventually led to serious conflicts. The surprising death of Selim has given rise to much speculation. ”Officially, it is said that she died“ of the consequences of pneumonia that she suffered from a boat trip on the Wannsee ”.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon ONLINE , accessed on August 25, 2013.
  2. ↑ C. Gruber - C. Höslinger:  Selim (Selim-Benatzky) Josma. In: Austrian Biographical Lexicon 1815–1950 (ÖBL). Volume 12, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 2001-2005, ISBN 3-7001-3580-7 , p. 155 f. (Direct links on p. 155 , p. 156 ).
  3. ↑ Inge Jens: Triumph and Tristesse. Ralph Benatzky: From the diaries from 1919 to 1946. ( Memento of the original from March 19, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 2002 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ralph-benatzky.com
  4. ↑ On the cause of death cf. also: Jens Uwe Völmecke: Ralph Benatzky: A composer career between Vienna, Berlin and Hollywood. Triangle: The radio for reading (MDR), 2002, ibid. ( No longer available! )

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Selim, Josma
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Fischer, Hedwig Josma
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian chansonets and diseuse
DATE OF BIRTH June 5, 1884
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna
DATE OF DEATH August 25, 1929
Place of death Berlin