Biography
Abraham pursued his studies at the Budapest Academy of Music, concentrating on orchestral and chamber composition. Early notice followed when The Budapest PO presented his cello concerto and a string quartet appeared at the Salzburg Festival in 1922. He joined the Budapest Operetta Theatre in 1927, working there as conductor and composer. Moving afterward to Germany, he attained success with his first full operetta, Viktoria und ihr Husar, which integrated contemporary dance and jazz idioms. During that period he also supplied a score for German cinema and completed several further operettas. With the rise of Hitler he was obliged to depart, fleeing to Vienna, where his works found little favor. He next traveled to Cuba, supporting himself modestly as a pianist. Another relocation to New York ended in a mental breakdown that led to hospitalization. Abraham reentered Europe in 1956 and passed his remaining years in Hamburg.