GOLDMARK, KARL

born May 18, 1830, Keszthely, Hung. died Jan. 2, 1915, Vienna, Austria Austro-Hungarian composer whose opera Die Knigin von Saba ("The Queen of Sheba") was highly popular in the late 19th century. The son of a poor Jewish cantor, Goldmark studied violin in Vienna under G. Bhm and theory under G. Preyer; in composition he was self-taught. His most successful works are the overture Sakuntala (1860) and the opera Die Knigin von Saba (1875). Among his other works are five operas, notably Das Heimchen am Herd (1896; "The Cricket on the Hearth," after Charles Dickens); two violin concerti; two symphonies; and chamber works.