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Robert A. Simon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Alfred Simon (1897 in New York City – 27 April 1981 in New York City) was an American writer, translator, and music critic for The New Yorker from its first issue in 1925 until 1948. A graduate of Columbia University, in addition to his original fiction he wrote opera and musical comedy librettos for several composers. In 1927 he penned a widely praised English translation of Gounod's Faust as well as new librettos for Carmen and The Abduction From the Seraglio for Vladimir Rosing's American Opera Company.

His writing varied in subject from social criticism (Our Little Girl) to detective fiction (The Weekend Mystery) to the satire of artists and musicians (Sweet & Low, published under the pseudonym Liggett Reynolds).

Selected works

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Books

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  • Our Little Girl (1923)
  • The Week-end Mystery (1926)
  • Sweet & Low: A Smashing Indictment of the Younger Generation (1926)
  • Bronx Ballads (1927) [Editor]
  • The Pamphlet Poets: The New York Wits (1927) [Editor]

Translations

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Librettos

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References

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  1. ^ "Faust in English", The Standard Union (Brooklyn), Jan 11, 1928.
  2. ^ "Mozart's Abduction From the Seraglio Added to American Opera Company Repertory", The Standard Union (Brooklyn), Jan 30, 1928.
  3. ^ "American Opera Company Gives Carmen", Musical Courier, Feb 23, 1928.

Sources

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Preceded by
None
Music Critic of The New Yorker
1925–1948
Succeeded by