OTD in Music History: Legendary violin virtuoso Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler (1875 - 1962) makes his American debut at Steinway Hall in New York City in 1888, kicking off his 1st American tour (1888–1889) with famed concert pianist Moritz Rosenthal (1862 - 1946).
A remarkable child prodigy, Kreisler first studied music at the Vienna Conservatory from 1882-1885 (where his teachers included Anton Bruckner [1824 – 1896]) before moving on to the Paris Conservatory from 1885-1887 (where his teachers included Léo Delibes [1836 - 1891] and Jules Massenet [1842 – 1912]).
When Kreisler graduated from the Paris Conservatory at the tender age of 12, he was awarded a prestigious gold medal -- beating out 40 other violinists (all of whom were at least 20 years old) to secure that honor.
Kreisler was also a noted composer who wrote a number of enduringly popular short pieces for the violin.
Some of these compositions were pastiches, ostensibly penned in the style of other composers -- and indeed, Kreisler originally "passed them off" as the work of famous Baroque composers including Giuseppe Tartini (1692 - 1770) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741).
When Kreisler finally came clean about this deception in 1935, a number of prominent music critics who had been completely taken in by this ruse raised a fuss in the press.
Kreisler, however, took great pleasure in wryly pointing out that whatever their qualms, the critics themselves had already conceded the high quality of the music itself: "The name printed on the sheet music may now change, but the musical value of the underlying notes remains very much the same!”
PICTURED: A publicity headshot showing the elderly Kreisler, which he signed and inscribed to a friend with "Xmas" wishes in 1945.
Today: Watch the only known (unfortunately silent) film footage of legendary violin virtuoso and composer Fritz Kreisler (1875 – 1962) playing his violin, which was shot at the house of a family friend c. 1930.
It is actually rather surprising that we don’t have *more* film footage of Kreisler in action (including sound footage), considering that he lived into the 1960s. The most likely explanation comes from the fact that Kreisler was involved in a serious traffic accident in 1941, which put him in a coma for a week and largely derailed his later career. This unfortunate incident probably robbed of us many additional opportunities for film footage with sound to be shot...
According to one eagle-eyed observed, Kreisler appears to be playing part of the “Sarabande” from J.S. Bach’s (1685 – 1750) 1st Violin Partita (BWV 1002).
By Mimi Sunshine, bias dress in black and white striped cotton.
From John Kloss for the Kreisler Group, a perfect little black and ivory printed crepe with a scoop neckline and soft elasticated waist. In acetate and nylon (Gallery Screen Prints fabric).
André Laug's fine and transparent woolen veil
multicolored polka dots on cream, soft pleats, soft tie.
At Ilie Wacs, the cream silk pajama safari shirt and matching pants.
Geoffrey Beene's crepe de chine pajamas in black and white checks with a long-sleeved shirt top. Of polyester.
From Diane Von Furstenberg, the Art Deco printed pajamas in brown and white. In cotton and rayon.De gauche à droite :
De Mimi Sunshine, robe biaisée en coton rayé noir et blanc.
De John Kloss pour le groupe Kreisler, un parfait petit crêpe imprimé noir et ivoire avec une encolure dégagée et une taille élastiquée douce. En acétate et nylon (tissu Gallery Screen Prints).
Le voile de laine fin et transparent d'André Laug
pois multicolores sur crème, plis souples, lien souple.
Chez Ilie Wacs, la chemise safari pyjama en soie crème et le pantalon assorti.
Le pyjama en crêpe de Chine de Geoffrey Beene à carreaux noirs et blancs avec un haut chemise à manches longues. De polyester.
De Diane Von Furstenberg, le pyjama imprimé Art Déco en marron et blanc. En coton et rayonne.
Hair/Coiffure Maury Hopson, François of Suga Salon
Models/Modèles : Anne Holbrook, Charly Stember, Barbara Minty, Kathy Quirk?
An replica of Giuseppe Guarneri’s 1730 “Kreisler” violin, fitted with a mountain mahogany “Lady Blunt” tailpiece, “Alard” pegs, and a richlite Rippleboard
Eine lustige Probe mit meinen liebsten Freunden Martha und Mischa (was für ein Glück, dass wir einen Weltklasse-Cellisten als Marthas Pageturner haben!) in Kreislers herzlichem Schön Rosmarin! 🎼📄🎻🎹🎵🎶
“But there was one book that stood out, as a young adult having come out of the university. I had met this wonderful African American who was the first PhD that I met. He handed me a book one day and he said, “I want you to read this book.” And the title of the book was The Shoes of the Fisherman. Very briefly, it’s a story about a Catholic cardinal imprisoned in the Soviet Union, freed, goes back to the Vatican by a strange set of circumstances. He becomes the Pope, and it’s the story of how this guy escapes the Vatican to go out and touch people and continue to feel life in a real way. And he said, “When you finish the book, come talk with me.” Later he asked, “Why do you think I gave you this book?” I had no real idea. He said, “Because it’s a story about the loneliness of leadership and the need to continue to fight isolation as a leader. I see you as a young leader, and you need to prepare yourself for leadership.” Overwhelming! Made me go back and read the book a second time with different eyes and a different view.”
– Ron Dellums
[From the book Political Awakenings: Conversations with History. Edited by Harry Kreisler.]
one of my favorite violinists, augustin hadelich posted a short clip of rehearsal with indianapolis symphony orchestra of fritz kreisler's cadenza to beethoven's violin concerto in d major, op 61
I like The Alienist but as a trans person the first season of the tv adaptation does make me a bit ummmm uncomfortable.
And I felt this way since first I saw it.
Period drama, lgbt horror, damn sounds good, refreshing even. Criminal Minds gone 19 century and gay(er).
That's what I thought seeing the first minutes of episode one.
But no, unfortunately it does end up being bad representation and just feels wrong. I dare to say that it falls in homophobia and transphobia.
It makes me a bit sick.
I still like the show but I can't shake up that feeling when watching the first season.
But that is my experience, feel free to tell me yours bc I'm really intrigued on the queer perspective on the show but I cannot find shit on the internet.
(I haven't read the books yet so maybe it's only a problem from the adaptation and not the series in general but who knows.)