Wikipedia:
Alexander Steinbrecher (* June 16, 1910 in Brno, then Austria-Hungary; † April 6, 1982 in Vienna) was an Austrian composer who was successful mainly with operettas, film music, popular songs and folk Viennese songs.
Steinbrecher was the son of Alexander L. Steinbrecher, a wholesale merchant who died at an early age (1919), and Frieda Mayer, adopted Nessler, who came from a Jewish family.
After the completing the ''Matura'' (general qualification for university entrance), Steinbrecher studied music at the Prague Conservatory under Josef Suk, the son-in-law of Antonín Dvořák. After completing his music studies, Steinbrecher first worked in a Viennese music publishing house. During this time he wrote his first hits, songs and also some stage works.
In 1936, he wrote his comedy with music ''Schneider im Schloss'' whose vocal lyrics Steinbrecher composed together with Hans Weigel. In 1939, he wrote the music for the ''Alt-Wiener Posse mit Gesang Die Gigerl'n von Wien''. This was followed in 1940 by ''Brillanten aus Wien''. In this operetta, Steinbrecher told the story of the jeweler Joseph Strasser, who lived in Josefstadt and is considered one of the inventors of rhinestones. Steinbrecher's best-known Viennese song, ''Ich kenn' ein kleines Wegerl im Helenental'', comes from this now forgotten work. In 1941, he wrote the musical comedy ''Theres' und die Hoheit''. In 1942, Steinbrecher achieved his greatest stage success with the burlesque ''Meine Nichte Susanne''. Of the "delightfully mischievous music" and the hits full of witty wit and piquancy, the song ''Unter einem Regenschirm am Abend'' became especially famous.
Since 1939, Steinbrecher was married to the actress Jane Tilden, their common daughter is Frances Martin. However, the marriage later resulted in divorce.
In 1944, Steinbrecher was drafted into military service after the closure of all German-language theaters. He was on the Gottbegnadeten list (Important Artist Exempt List) of the Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda in 1944.
After the end of World War II, Steinbrecher went to Salzburg as a composer for the radio station ''Rot-Weiß-Rot'', where he was program director for a time. He later became Kapellmeister at Vienna's Burgtheater, where he wrote incidental music for popular comedy plays by Ferdinand Raimund and Johann Nestroy.
Steinbrecher's other well-known Viennese songs include ''Zwei aus Ottakring'' and ''Zwischen Simmering und Favoriten''.
Steinbrecher's music is inventive, charming and always unsentimental. Tailor-made melodies and musical ideas interspersed with modern harmonies find their special charm in cabaret-style chansons. Steinbrecher's music always complements the often satirical wit of the lyrics.
Alexander Steinbrecher died in Vienna after a short serious illness at the age of almost 72. He was buried at the Neustift Cemetery in a grave dedicated in honor.
Through his marriages to Beatrix Degenschild and Elisabeth Urbancic, he was the stepfather of director Michael Haneke and actor Christoph Waltz.
Note: Translated from the German version of Wikipedia into English.
