Franz Kraemer

Franz Kraemer, OC (June 1, 1914 – August 27, 1999) was a Canadian radio producer, a "pioneer produced of opera at CBC Television".^[1] In the 1930 he studied music in Vienna, with Alban Berg, Anton von Webern and others.^[2] Leaving Austria like many other artists in the 1930s around the time of the Nazi takeover in 1938, Kraemer became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1947,^[3] the first year that Canadian citizenship was made available (prior to that all Canadians were considered British subjects). Kraemer has made a name of himself as a gifted music composer and producer; he has been called by Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada and CBC journalist, as "the most prolific and talented music producer the CBC Television ever produced ... He was a mentor for many of us in television who did that kind of programming."^[4]

Kraemer's career was cut short in Austria by fascism and a climate of hatred. Asked about it, we would simply say "Mr. Hitler ruined me."^[5] In Canada, he became a close colleague and friend of Glenn Gould.^[6] Eric Koch said "Franz knew everything" in music.^[7] In 1971, he was appointed music director of the Toronto Arts Foundation In 1981, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Officer in 1987.