Anny (Ann M.) Schlesinger (Lingg, verh. Lessner)

Born:	10-07-1907
Faculty:	Philosophical School
Category:	Expelled student

Anny SCHLESINGER  (Ann M. LINGG, married LESSNER), born on October 7th, 1907 in Vienna as daughter of Isidor Schlesinger (born 1874) and Carla Schlesinger (nee Askonas), and granddaughter of Wilhelm Schlesinger, k.u.k. Hoflieferant, horse trader and owner of the "New Vienna Tattersall" in the 2nd district, Schüttelstr. 19a (one of the most famous horsing club of the Viennese bourgeoisie, robbed in times of NS-regime, as the rest of the families possessions, (Marianne Enigl in profil 11.12.2000). She lived with her family in Vienna's 1st district, Biberstraße 14.
Based on a French state certificate she enrolled as an extraordinary student at the Vienna University's Philosophical School from fall term 1930/31 to fall term 1932/33 to take courses in musicology. After graduation from highschool ("Realgymnasium" at Klosterneuburg/Lower Austria) in February 1933 she enrolled as ordinary students at the Philosophical School  of the University of Vienna in spring term 1932 up to fall term 1936/37 and continued with her studies in musicology (and also took some lectures in organical chemistry with Prof. Späth, in history of newspapers with Bauer or philosopy with Reininger and Moritz Schlick). At the time of the "Anschluss" in March 1938 she wasn't enrolled at the Philosophical School any more, but was preparing for the final examinations ('Rigorosen'). She registered for the final exams in Musicology on January 17th, 1938, and passed the first 'Rigorosum' on January 31st, 1938. She presented her dissertation 'Das Wiener Singspiel der Biedermeierzeit. (Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der komischen Oper)' on June 28th, 1938 which was accepted on June 29th, 1938, and she also passed the second 'Rigorosum' on July 1st, 1938 with the musicologists Prof. Robert Lach and ao. Prof. Alfred Orel, and the physics Prof. Schweidler. She could finally finish her studies and graduated on July 21st, 1938, but only with the discriminating ceremony of a 'Nichtarierpromotion', which included at the same time that she was banned from her profession. Anny Schlesinger had to flee Vienna in 1938 and was able to leave for France in time. From Cannes/France she could emigrate with the SS Conte di Savoia on August 24^th and arrived in New York, NY, on August 31^st, 1938. She settled down in Manhattan, New York City (211 Central Park West, later 212 Central Park South). In the 1940s and 1950s she wrote as Ann M. LINGG about popular and scientific musical topics in journals and magazines. She also wrote books about famous composers as Wolfgang A. Mozart (1946, "Mozart. Genious of Harmony"), Franz List (1951, "Mephisto Waltz: The Story of Franz Liszt") and "John Philip Sousa" (1955). Together with the pianist Ruth Slenczynska she wrote a trainingsbook for young musicians "Music at Your Fingertips". She also wrote for the "Opera News Magazine" and "Aria", a publication of the Metropolitan Opera Guild. She married Erwin C. LESSNER (1898-1959) in 1956 in New York, who also was forced to emigrate in 1938 from Vienna. He was a former Major of the Austro-Hungarian army in WWI, journalist and antifascist and author of "Blitzkrieg and Bluff: The Legend of Nazi Invincibility" (1943), "Phantom Victory" (1944), "At the Devil's booth" (1952), "Cradle of Conquerors: Siberia" (1955). He deceased in end of December 1959 and the book they wrote together about the Danuberiver "The Danube. The Dramatic History of the Great River and the People Touched by Its Flow" (1961) could only be printed after his death (online here). Ann M. Lingg Lessner, née Anny Schlesinger, deceased on May 9^th, 1995 in Manhattan, New York City, NY/USA.

Lit.: Archive of the University Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") PHIL 1930-1938, final examination file and registry ("Rigorosenakt- und Protokoll") PHIL 14118, graduation registry ("Promotionsprotokoll") 1931-1941, Nr. 2841; obituary in the NYTimes from May 11, 1995; POSCH 2009, 367; Eva Maria Mandel in "Blog Pratercottage", 2013; www.ancestry.de; information from Cornelia Stelzer, Vienna 2015.

Herbert Posch