Herbert Kretzmer

Herbert Kretzmer
Name	Herbert Kretzmer
Birth date	5 October 1925
Birth place	Kroonstad
Death date	14 October 2020
Death place	Camden, London
Occupation	Lyricist, journalist, translator
Notable works	Les Misérables (musical), "She"
Awards	Tony Award, Laurence Olivier Award, Academy Award nomination

Herbert Kretzmer (5 October 1925 – 14 October 2020) was an English lyricist, journalist, and translator best known for his English-language adaptation of the French novel-based musical Les Misérables (musical). He began his career in South Africa before moving to London, where he collaborated with figures from West End theatre, Broadway, film, and popular music, producing songs recorded by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Noel Harrison, and others.

Early life and education

Kretzmer was born in Kroonstad in the Orange Free State to a family of Lithuanian-Jewish descent who had immigrated from the Pale of Settlement. He was educated in South Africa, attending local schools during the era of the Union of South Africa and came of age against the backdrop of interwar developments such as the Great Depression and the lead-up to World War II. Influenced by European literature including Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, and Marcel Proust, he developed an early interest in journalism and theatre, later moving to London to pursue a professional career amid the postwar cultural scene that included institutions like the BBC and publications such as The Observer.

Career

Kretzmer's career began as a journalist and music critic for outlets in Johannesburg and later for BBC Radio and national newspapers in London, where he reviewed productions at venues such as the London Palladium and the Royal Opera House. He transitioned into lyric writing, collaborating with composers including Charles Aznavour, Guy Boulanger, Dave Clark and songwriters linked to the British Invasion and American pop circuits. Kretzmer wrote English lyrics for songs originally in French, working with artists connected to labels like Decca Records, EMI, and Columbia Records. His journalistic work engaged with figures such as Harold Macmillan, Winston Churchill, and cultural movements around Swinging London and the rise of rock and roll icons such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Major works and adaptations

Kretzmer's most prominent project was his complete English-language lyrics for Les Misérables (musical), adapting the French-language score by Claude-Michel Schönberg and the original concept album creators from Paris, which led to productions on the West End and on Broadway produced by figures including Cameron Mackintosh. He also adapted the song "She" for Charles Aznavour's French original into an English hit recorded by Elvis Costello in later cover versions and popularized in a rendition by Elvis Presley and by Tom Jones, performed on stages such as Royal Albert Hall and televised on BBC Television. Kretzmer contributed lyrics for film soundtracks tied to studios like Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox and for stage revivals at venues including the Barbican Centre and the Shaftesbury Theatre. Collaborations extended to performers and creators such as Al Jolson, Noël Coward, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Leslie Bricusse, Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe, classic literary adaptations, and contemporary directors like Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

Awards and honours

Kretzmer received recognition from theatre institutions including the Tony Award and the Laurence Olivier Award for the success of Les Misérables (musical), along with nominations from the Academy Awards for song contributions to film adaptations. He was honoured by cultural organisations such as the Society of Authors, the Royal Society of Literature, and received lifetime acknowledgements from producers including Cameron Mackintosh and critics associated with The Guardian, The Times, and The New York Times. He was celebrated at events hosted by venues including Aldwych Theatre and the Gielgud Theatre and commemorated in retrospectives by institutions like the British Library and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Personal life

Kretzmer's personal circle included friendships with artists and intellectuals from Paris, New York City, and London such as Charles Aznavour, Serge Gainsbourg, Burt Bacharach, Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and journalists from The Observer and Daily Mail. He balanced family life in Camden, London with travel to cultural festivals like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Cannes Film Festival, and residencies at institutions including Université Paris-Sorbonne programmes. His social and philanthropic involvements connected him to charities and organisations such as Arts Council England, Ambassadors Theatre Group, and Jewish communal institutions in London and South Africa.

Death and legacy

Kretzmer died in Camden, London on 14 October 2020, leaving a legacy embedded in major productions on the West End and Broadway and in recordings by Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, and Frank Sinatra. His work on Les Misérables (musical) influenced adaptations in film directed by Tom Hooper and revived stagings led by producers including Cameron Mackintosh and directors like Trevor Nunn, continuing to shape repertoire at venues such as the Palace Theatre and cultural archives at the British Library. Posthumous tributes appeared in outlets including The Guardian, The New York Times, and on broadcasts by the BBC, affirming his role among lyricists alongside Stephen Sondheim, Tim Rice, and Leslie Bricusse and ensuring ongoing performances in companies from West End theatre to regional houses and touring productions worldwide.

Category:English lyricists Category:1925 births Category:2020 deaths