Carl Zeller

Zeller had a fine soprano voice, and sang in the Vienna Boys' Choir before studying and composition in the University of Vienna. He worked as a civil servant at the Imperial Ministry of Education while composing choral works and a number of operettas, the best-known of which is Der Vogelhändler. All of his librettos were written (or co-written) by Moritz West, often together with Ludwig Held. Legal troubles, including a perjury conviction, ended Zeller's career at the ministry and led to prison and public disgrace in the mid-1890s (although his prison sentence was later repealed). After an injury in 1895 from falling on the ice, he spent his last years physically and then mentally ill. Zeller died of pneumonia in Baden bei Wien at the age of 56.

Carl Zeller studied at University of Vienna and Stiftsgymnasium Melk. Training under Simon Sechter and Felix Otto Dessoff is recorded. The recorded working language is German. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are opera and operetta. Employment is recorded with K.k. Positions recorded include referent and ministerialrat. Works named in the authority record are Der Vogelhändler and Der Obersteiger. Distinctions recorded are Ehrengrab, Knight of the Order of Carlos III, Officer of the Legion of Honour and commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy.

• Joconde (1876) • Die Fornarina (1878) • Capitän Nicoll, oder Die Carbonari (1880) • Der Vagabund (1886) • Der Vogelhändler (The Bird Seller) (1891) • The Mine Foreman (Der Obersteiger) (1894) • Der Kellermeister (1901; completed by Johannes Brandl)