ON THIS DAY | Violinist & Composer Fritz Kreisler Died in 1962

He is widely regarded as one of the finest violinists of all time and remembered for his characteristic sweet tone, charm, and expressive phrasing

January 29, 2022

1070

Austrian-American violin virtuoso & composer Fritz Kreisler passed away from a heart condition, aged 86.

He entered the Vienna Conservatory at age 7 and went on to study composition and violin at the Paris Conservatory.

After serving as an officer in the Austrian army, in 1899, he returned to the stage as a concert violinist, quickly rising to prominence.

He composed a number of solo encore works for violin and piano, including Liebesleid and Liebesfreud, plus two operettas, a string quartet, and virtuosic solo cadenzas for Brahms', Beethoven's and Paganini's Violin Concertos.

In 1910, he gave the first performance of Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto which was dedicated to him.

The Fritz Kreisler International Violin Competition, which was named after the virtuoso, will take place between September 17 and 25, 2022, in Vienna. Applications to the competition are due by April 30, 2022.