Deutsche Grammophon Honors Fritz Kreisler on Anniversary of His Death
By: Gabrielle Sierra Jan. 05, 2012
Along with his friend Caruso, Fritz Kreisler (1875–1962) was one of the superstars of the early gramophone era. Kreisler's concerts were major events on both sides of the Atlantic: "Men and women waved hats and handkerchiefs. Some became hysterical. Others with difficulty controlled their emotions" (New York Times). Deutsche Grammophon pays tribute to the violinist's amazing legacy on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his death (January 29, 1962). A Tribute to Fritz Kreisler, available January 17, includes not only recordings of Kreisler but also a number of other artists who the violinist's favorite arrangements and works.
Half a century after his death, Fritz Kreisler is as famous as ever, although his reputation has undergone a subtle transformation. In his lifetime, he was a great violinist who composed, whereas now he is a composer who, it is rather dimly recalled, played the violin. The artistry of Kreisler and his contemporaries Bronis?aw Huberman, Joseph Szigeti, Erica Morini and Adolf Busch comes as a shock to modern ears. Today, when the old national schools of violin playing have coalesced into a single style, it is difficult to appreciate that such extraordinary individuals once bestrode the concert platform.
This set, with 42 tracks totaling more than two hours of music, juxtaposes recordings of Kreisler in his prime (1910–1913) with reinterpretations by modern admirers of his compositions and arrangements. In his own era, these pieces were so closely connected with their composer that, while many other violinists played them in concert, few recorded more than a token number of them. For fans of historical recordings the set includes a Ruggiero Ricci American Decca LP (1961) of original Kreisler compositions and arrangements – on CD for the first time.
As an act of homage, Deutsche Grammophon has chosen recordings of Kreisler's compositions and arrangements as recorded by Jascha Heifetz, David Oistrakh, Christian Ferras, Shlomo Mintz, Gidon Kremer and Anne-Sophie Mutter. Click here for the complete track listing.
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