Fritz Kreisler established his international standing by bridging the gap between nineteenth-century European virtuosic traditions and the burgeoning American recording industry. Born in Vienna in 1875, he rose to prominence as a composer and violinist whose style was defined by a unique melodic approach to phrasing, characterized by persistent vibrato, expressive portamento, and rubato.
Early Training and Education
Kreisler began his formal instruction at the Vienna Conservatory at age seven, studying under Anton Bruckner, Jakob Dont, and Joseph Hellmesberger Jr. He later attended the Paris Conservatory between 1885 and 1887. His talent was recognized early when he earned the premier prix in violin at age twelve. Despite his clear proficiency, an early application to join the Vienna Philharmonic resulted in rejection, prompting a brief departure from music to pursue medicine and military service.
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He returned to public performance in 1899 with the Berlin Philharmonic. His career was frequently interrupted by geopolitical instability. During World War I, he served in the Austrian Army until he was wounded and discharged. Following his move to the United States in 1914, he remained in America for the duration of the war. He later relocated to France in 1938, only to return to the United States at the outbreak of World War II, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1943.
Composition and Attribution
Beyond his performance career, Kreisler authored numerous compositions, including the well-known Alt-Wiener Tanzweisen, Liebesleid, and Schön Rosmarin. He also wrote operettas such as Apple Blossoms and Sissy, alongside various cadenzas for concertos by Beethoven, Brahms, and Paganini. Notably, he composed several works that he initially presented as rediscoveries of eighteenth-century masters like Pugnani and Vivaldi. He revealed his authorship of these pieces in 1935, maintaining that the musical value of the works remained independent of the credited composer.
Final Years
Kreisler's later life included significant health challenges, including hearing loss, cataracts, and a severe injury sustained in 1941 when he was struck by a truck in New York. He gave his final public performance in 1947. He died in 1962 at New York–Presbyterian Hospital due to a heart condition and was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery. Throughout his life, he was an avid collector of fine instruments by makers such as Stradivari and Guarneri, eventually donating his Giuseppe Guarneri to the Library of Congress.
Fast facts
- Born: 1875, Vienna, Austria–Hungary
- Died: 1962, NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital
- Education: University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
- Citizenship: Austria, United States
- Awards: Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal (1904)
- Notable Works: Liebesleid, Schön Rosmarin, Alt-Wiener Tanzweisen
- Burial Site: Woodlawn Cemetery
- Military Service: Austrian Army (World War I)
Questions readers ask
Did Fritz Kreisler write all the music attributed to him?
No. For years, he published compositions under the names of historical figures like Vivaldi and Pugnani before revealing in 1935 that he had composed them himself.
Where is Kreisler buried?
He is interred in a private mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York City.
Achievements
- Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal — 1904
- Notable work: Liebesleid
- Notable work: Schön Rosmarin
- Notable work: Alt-Wiener Tanzweisen
- Notable work: Four Weeks In The Trenches; The War Story Of A Violinist
- Instruments: violin
- Genres: opera and classical music
