Alois Reiser

Alois Reiser (April 6, 1887 – April 4, 1977) was a Czech-born American cellist and composer.

Reiser studied with Dvorak at the Prague Conservatory, and received a doctorate in music from the University of Prague. He toured Europe as cellist in the Bohemian Trio. He came to the United States in 1905, where he played cello for the Pittsburgh and New York Symphony orchestras.

He returned to Prague, conducting at the Prague Opera House until 1918. He then returned to New York and conducted at the Strand Theater. In 1927 he replaced Nathaniel Shilkret; he was assistant conductor until 1928; upon Jacques Gruenberg's resignation he became principal conductor. His first engagement as principal was to conduct the music for the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's film The Circus.

In 1929 he moved to Hollywood to direct and compose music for film studios.

He was the initial music director of the Los Angeles opera department of the Federal Music Project; performing Les Contes d'Hoffman. Other productions were planned but the department eventually failed under the leadership of Max Rabinoff.

He composed a number of works for orchestra, including two tone poems and two cello concertos; he also wrote chamber music, including string quartets, and the opera Gobi.

He died in Los Angeles.

Birth and Death Data: Born Prague (capital city of the Czech Republic), Died April 8, 1976 (Los Angeles (seat of Los Angeles County, and largest city in California, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: director

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor MVE-49037 16-in. 1/3/1929 Liberty Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra director  
Victor MVE-49038 16-in. 1/3/1929 Liberty Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra director  
Victor BVE-49061 10-in. 1/15/1929 Song d'automne Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra director  
Victor BVE-49068 10-in. 1/15/1929 Misterioso Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra director  
Victor BVE-49721 10-in. 2/21/1929 Allegro scherzando Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra director  
Victor BVE-49722 10-in. 2/21/1929 Autumn voices Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra director  
Victor BVE-49723 10-in. 2/21/1929 Agitato a la valse Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra director  
Victor MVE-49763 16-in. 3/2/1929 That's my wife Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra, with xylophone director  
Victor MVE-49764 16-in. 3/2/1929 That's my wife Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra, with xylophone director  
Victor VA-MVE-3111 16-in. 2/18/1929 Love and the devil Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra, with mixed vocal chorus director  
Victor VA-MVE-3112 16-in. 2/18/1929 Love and the devil Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra, with male vocal solos and mixed vocal chorus director  
Victor VA-MVE-3113 16-in. 2/19/1929 Love and the devil Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra, with male vocal solo director  
Victor VA-MVE-3114 16-in. 2/19/1929 Love and the devil Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra director  
Victor VA-MVE-3115 16-in. 2/20/1929 Love and the devil Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra director  
Victor VA-MVE-3116 16-in. 2/20/1929 Love and the devil Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra director  
Victor VA-MVE-3117 16-in. 2/21/1929 Love and the devil Motion Picture Orchestra Motion picture soundtrack : Orchestra, with male vocal solo director  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Reiser, Alois," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109253.

Reiser, Alois. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109253.

"Reiser, Alois." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109253

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