Tales from the Vienna Woods: Johann Strauss II - Fricsay/RIAS pt 2

G'schichten aus dem Wienerwald

Johann Strauss II (October 25, 1825 -- June 3, 1899)
Johann Strauss Sr., the most popular and successful conductor and composer of dance music of his time, discouraged his son's musical ambitions. Despite these objections, Johann Jr. studied with Joseph Dreschler, and, at age 19, conducted a program which included his own compositions, as well as his father's. He earned the title "The Waltz King" because of his prolific output and frequent international tours with his own orchestra, which usually numbered about twenty-six. He was also an excellent self-promoter. Prof. Franz Mailer of Vienna's Strauss Society tells us that for the private court balls, Strauss was allocated only fourteen musicians. The Emperor wanted no larger ensemble. A thirty-four-man group however played for the larger court balls, and for concerts, 48. 80, or even a hundred musicians were used.
Ferenc Fricsay was born in Budapest on 9th August 1914.

1920--1933 Music studies and diploma from the Budapest Academy of Music (piano,
violin, clarinet, trombone, percussion, composition and conducting)

1930 Takes over the Young Musicians Orchestra from his father

1933--1943 Conductor of the Szeged Military Band and music director of the Szegediner
Philharmonic Orchestra.

1944 Escapes from the Gestapo and goes underground in Budapest

1945--1948 Engagement at the Budapest State Opera

1946 Performance of "Carmen" at the Vienna Volksoper

1947 World premiere of Gottfried v. Einem's "Dantons Tod" at the Salzburg
Festival

1948 World première of Frank Martin's "Zaubertrank" at the Salzburg
Festival

1949--1952 Chief conductor of the Berlin RIAS Orchestra and General Music Director of the City Opera

1950--1955 Guest performances and concert tours in Argentina ( Buenos Aires), WestGermany, Switzerland, England, Israel, USA (Houston) Lucerne Festival, Munich

1956--1958 Named General Music Director of the State Opera in Munich (Otello, Wozzek, Die Fürsten Chowansky, Lucia etc)

1958 Reopening of the Cuvillies-Theater (Munich) with "Marriage of Figaro". Cancellation of all engagements due to illness

1959-1961 Chief conductor of the Radio-Symphony Orchestra of Berlin (RSO). Inaugural concert of the large hall of the Broadcasting Studio, Free Berlin

1961 On tour with Menuhin and the RSO; in July opening performance of the Salzburg Festival with "Idomeneo", World première of Kodaly's Symphony in the Lucerne Festival. In September inauguration of the Deutsche Oper Berlin with "Don Giovanni"

1962 Publication of the book "Über Mozart und Bartok"

On February 20th, 1963 Ferenc Fricsay succumbs to his illness and dies in a Basle hospital.

Category:

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[Layna8]

How Romantic! Love it!

L.

Vancouver, Canada.

[2ndviolinist]

@Layna8 I think it's the best version overall, especially with the zither.

[elteabrian]

0:17 is amazing