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323:, thereby becoming a tourist attraction. He was not satisfied, as he preferred to perform for locals who would understand him, his language and music. Because of this, he retired and retreated from the limelight in 1966, explaining, "I'm not a tourist guy, and what I did there had hardly anything to do with 'Vienna Heuriger'."
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to
Theresia Streckel. He was later legitimized by her marriage to a factory worker, Karl Josef Karas. One of five children, Anton Karas was already keen on music as a child. He wanted to become a bandleader, which was impossible because of his family's financial situation. He was allowed to learn to
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In
Austria, the film opened on 10 March 1950, in Vienna's Apollo Kino, and it initially offended some Viennese inhabitants, as it focused on the disgrace of the destroyed city. Vienna's newspaper critics hated the film, except for its music. When Karas returned to Austria after his first world tour
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Reed, desperately searching for a theme tune ... chanced on the tavern in Vienna's
Grinzing wine-growing district. Struck by the simple zither melodies, Reed asked a stunned Karas if he would compose the music for the film. Karas protested, saying he had never actually written music. As Karas later
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at the age of 14, while taking evening courses in music at a private institution. He finished his apprenticeship in 1924, and worked in a car factory until becoming unemployed in
January 1925. Having already begun to study at the
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told the story, the director insisted and invited Karas to
England. The Austrian became homesick and asked to return. Reed told him he could; when he had written the music. Under this pressure, Karas wrote his Harry Lime theme.
272:. He later stated, "I never was a star, and never felt like one. It is because of that film that I was pushed from one place to the other ... My only desire was to be back home again." He toured again in 1951, travelling to
432:"Der Sieveringer Zithervirtuose hat den Streifen kompositorisch untermalt und ersetzt mit seinem Instrument wirkungsvoll ein Orchester. Er beherrscht die Zither mit einer Virtuosität, die aller Anerkennung würdig ist." (
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The film—with the music a contributing factor—was a success, and Karas' life was changed drastically. As a result, he toured globally and performed for many celebrities, including members of the
109:. His association with the film came about as a result of a chance meeting with its director. The success of the film and the enduring popularity of its theme song changed Karas' life.
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has composed his accompaniments for the film and effectively replaces, with his instrument, a whole orchestra. He plays the zither with a virtuosity that is praiseworthy."
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play an instrument, as were his two brothers and two sisters. He later reported that his first zither was one he found in his grandmother's attic at the age of 12.
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366:"Taufbuch - 01-01 | 20., Zwischenbruecken | Wien/Niederösterreich (Osten): Rk. Erzdiözese Wien | Österreich | Matricula Online"
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In 1930, he married, with the birth of his daughter following three months later. From 1939 to 1945 he was with the German
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invited him to London's
Empress Club, where he played twice a week while in London. He also appeared before Queen
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from historical research, sponsored by the city of Vienna in 2005 (15 pages, in German).
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and other members of the government. Most importantly, the public liked the film. In
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and heard Karas playing the zither in the background. This is described in Karas'
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Karas disliked the glamour, and his soundtrack proved to be an enduring
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player and composer, best known for his internationally famous 1948
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in 1924, he subsequently earned a living as an entertainer in a
295:. It became fashionable among cinema celebrities including
436:, 1950-3-11) Rough translation: "The zither-virtuoso from
91:(7 July 1906 – 10 January 1985) was an Austrian
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University of Music and
Performing Arts Vienna alumni
117:Anton was born illegitimate at MarchfeldstraĂźe 17,
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524:Anton Karas page by his Grandson (English version)
129:As ordered by his father, he became an apprentice
498:"Anton Karas (1906-1985) - Find a Grave Memorial"
200:, along with many of the British elements of the
136:University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna
330:" are engraved on his grave marker in Vienna.
249:By the end of 1949, half a million copies of "
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389:Anton Karas, 'Third Man'Theme Composer, Dies
257:in July 1950, he was welcomed by Chancellor
242:, members of the Swedish royal family, and
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16:Austrian musician and composer (1906–1985)
529:Karas with celebrities in his "Heurige"
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391:- LA Times "From Reuters", 1985-01-10
202:Allied Control Commission for Austria
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651:Austrian people of Hungarian descent
621:20th-century Austrian male musicians
547:Biography and zither information at
404:quoted by Ulrike Granögger, p. 84.)
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572:Anton Karas Zither, The Third Man
196:in Vienna and was staying in the
186:In the summer of 1948, director
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291:or wine bar in Vienna he named
565:Karas biography by Peter Payer
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453:. Getty Images. October 1953
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554:In Search of the Third Man
545:The Zithers of Anton Karas
473:"Anton Karas Grave Marker"
402:The Continental Daily Mail
240:Juliana of the Netherlands
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370:data.matricula-online.eu
656:People from Brigittenau
626:Austrian male composers
326:The first few bars of "
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190:was preparing to shoot
646:London Records artists
423:by Peter Payer, p. 13.
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155:anti-aircraft warfare
82:Musician and composer
251:The Harry Lime Theme
232:British Royal family
328:The Third Man Theme
221:which states that:
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502:www.findagrave.com
451:"Zum Dritten Mann"
419:2008-10-30 at the
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131:tool and die maker
414:Karas's biography
321:Johannes Heesters
301:Gina Lollobrigida
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72:(1985-01-10)
606:1985 deaths
601:1906 births
582:Anton Karas
317:Marika Rökk
263:Brigittenau
175:in Karas's
119:Brigittenau
52:Brigittenau
48:7 July 1906
23:Anton Karas
595:Categories
559:Amazon.com
507:2022-07-26
434:Die Presse
375:2021-08-12
334:References
309:Hans Moser
212:L.A. Times
188:Carol Reed
113:Early life
101:Carol Reed
97:soundtrack
44:1906-07-07
549:zither.us
534:Biography
457:April 24,
438:Sievering
278:Las Vegas
152:Wehrmacht
539:Allmusic
482:July 26,
417:Archived
289:heuriger
282:Hirohito
274:Montreal
219:obituary
207:Heuriger
177:heuriger
140:Heuriger
577:YouTube
354:YouTube
216:Reuters
60:Austria
146:Career
123:Vienna
93:zither
56:Vienna
586:IMDb
484:2022
459:2024
319:and
276:and
67:Died
38:Born
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