Austrian violinist and composer Kreisler Fritz: creativity

The world of musical art numbers dozens of names of true geniuses. Their talent and contribution to the development of art have forever left a trace in history and gave the world many musical masterpieces, which today are called classics. A worthy place among the great musicians is Austrian violinist and composer Kreisler Fritz. He became famous not only for virtuoso possession of the violin, but also for the creation of stunning works, which are now being re-enacted by contemporaries and included in the golden collection of masterpieces of classical music.

Biography

Kreisler Fritz was born in 1875 in Vienna. Father worked as a doctor and in the circle of acquaintances he was known as a passionate music lover. Perhaps, it was this predilection that was the reason for his son's future choice.

From the age of four Kreisler Fritz studied violin and quickly succeeded in it. Thanks to his genius abilities and contrary to the rules, the young violinist was admitted to the Vienna Conservatory at the age of seven. It was there that his first public appearance took place. Among his teachers were the outstanding composer and organist of that time Anton Bruckner and the famous violinist and conductor Josef Helmesberger. Three years later, Fritz graduated from the conservatory with a gold medal, and as a reward he received a violin made by the famous Italian master Amati, the teacher of the great Antonio Stradivari.

In 1885 a young violinist entered the Paris Conservatoire. There he honed the musical skills in the lessons of Joseph Massar and Leo Delibes. After reaching the age of 12, he passed the final exam, received the Grand Prix and decided to start an independent musical career.

America

In 1889, Kreisler Fritz went on a joint concert tour of the United States with pianist Moritz Rosenthal. But expectations of an enthusiastic reception were hasty. The American public was rather reserved about the creativity of the young violinist. Later, in 1900, Fritz made another attempt to tour the States. This time he received a warm welcome, and even received proposals for cooperation, but to move across the ocean the violinist was in no hurry. The European public for him was more native and sympathetic.

Confession

In 1893 and 1896, Kreisler Fritz performed in Russia. Together with him spoke and Sergei Rachmaninoff. In 1899, he soloed at the Berlin Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the then-known conductor Arthur Nikisch. The real triumph Fritz received at the London concerts in 1904, then he was awarded the gold medal of the London Philharmonic Society. And the distinguished British composer Edward Elgar dedicated a violin concert to Kreisler, which was repeated in 1910 by Fritz himself.

The Austrian violinist, despite contradictory responses and criticism, still remained popular and claimed until a very young age, until due to progressive blindness and deafness he did not have to finish his musical career.

Creation

Kreisler Fritz is considered one of the biggest violinists of the first half of the last century. He had a special style of play, in which both technical flawlessness and elegance of sound, and a live rhythm, and precise phrasing were combined. Certainly, he took some technical "maneuvers" from his predecessor colleagues, invested in them the warmth of his own soul and virtuosity. So, for example, reception of vibrato (alternating change in height, timbre or sound power), borrowed from the Polish composer Henryk Wieniawski, became one of the distinguishing features of his work.

In addition to the genius of the violinist, Kreisler possessed the talent of the composer. His masterpieces are deservedly considered the operetta "Sissi" and "Flowers of the apple tree", a string quartet and works for violin or cadenza, composed by him for the concerts of Beethoven, Brahms and the Tartini Sonata "Devil's Trills."

No less charming and virtuosic are the waltzes of "Love torment", "Chinese tambourine", "Joys of love" and "Wonderful rosemary". They still sound today in the interpretation of contemporaries, and the public always welcomes them with a stormy ovation. A special sympathy for listeners is the play "The Little Viennese March".

Mystification

Known Kreisler Fritz and as a musician-hoaxer. In 1905-1910 he published "Classical Manuscripts." These were pieces for violin and piano, which the composer introduced as works of works by Couperin, Punjani, Franker and Boccherini composers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Critics of their ignorance have repeatedly noted the magnificent style of these treatments, the exact adherence of the author to the texts of the originals. And only in 1935, Fritz himself admitted that all these plays are his own compositions, and not the musical imitations of his predecessors.

However, there was also the flip side of such hoaxes. Thus, in his time, Kreisler gave out the works of "Flour of Love" and "Joy of Love" for stylizing ancient waltzes. They were subjected to destructive criticism, contrasted with transcriptions as samples of true music. But Fritsev's self-disclosure plunged into a shock of skeptics and detractors.

Collection

Kreisler Fritz had a small collection of antique violins created by outstanding violin makers (for example, Antonio Stradivari, Carlo Bergontsi). Later, these tools began to bear the name of the owner - the great Kreisler.

The collection of violins was useful to Fritz not only at numerous performances and in creative research. There is a case when the violinist had to donate to the Guarneri (Del-Jezu) violin for the Library of Congress to repay the tax debt in the United States . In the declining years, Fritz sold out his entire antique collection, leaving only the violin of Jean-Baptiste Wijom.

Interesting Facts

• In 1896 he tried to enter the orchestra of the Vienna court opera, but did not pass the competition: prevented the weakness of reading from the sheet.
• When the First World War began, Kreisler was called to the front, but he was soon wounded and demobilized. Because of the unsettled situation, the violinist was forced to leave for the United States. But after 10 years of longing for his native Europe forced him to return. He lived first in Berlin, then moved to France.
• In 1938, due to the intensification of the Nazi mood, Kreisler Fritz had to go back to the States and accept American citizenship. In 1941, an Austrian violinist shot down a truck, but he recovered rather quickly after the disaster. However, later the consequences of the trauma made themselves felt and forced to quit the musical career.
• The genius of the violin - Kreisler Fritz - had a lively, cheerful disposition. Once he visited an antique store to brag his violin and offer to buy it. In response, the owner called the police and said that the stranger illegally turned out to be the instrument of the "great Kreisler". To prove his identity and innocence, the virtuoso violinist had to play the violin.

PS

Kreisler Fritz died in New York at the age of 86 years. He was afraid that they would soon forget about him, and the glory of his works would fade and sink into oblivion. However, like most geniuses, the talent of a virtuoso violinist and composer of criticism was appreciated much later. And today he deserves a place of honor in the list of musical geniuses, whose play and works are examples of immortal classical music.