Franjo Krežma

Franjo Krežma (4 September 1862 – 15 June 1881),[1] also known as Franz Krezma in German-speaking countries, was a Croatian violinist and composer.

Family and education

Born in Osijek, Austrian Empire, he showed interest for music in his early childhood and began playing the violin, gaining a reputation as a violinist. After moving to Zagreb he was taught by the violinist, composer and conductor Đuro (Gjuro) Eisenhuth. Krežma performed his first public concert on the 10.8.1870 in Sisak,[2] at the very young age of 8, playing his violin with his three years older sister Anka (later Krežma-Barbot) backing him on the piano. Noticed and recommended by the Zagreb-born composer Leopold Alexander Zellner, he entered the music Conservatory of Vienna, Austria-Hungary at the age of 9, as the youngest student ever, already then starting to compose, and completing studies before the age of 13, in the summer of 1875.[2]

Career

Having finished his studies, Krežma started a European career, performing with his sister. By the age of 16, he had performed in cities across Europe like Rome, Prague, Genoa, Paris and Venice.[1][2] On 1 July 1879, at the age of 16, he became the concert master at Benjamin Bilse's Bilse'sche Kapelle, the orchestra which would in the following years become Berlin Philharmonic.[1]

Death and legacy

After a successful concert in Frankfurt am Main, Germany on 6 June 1881, Krežma developed an inflammation of the inner ear, which developed into meningitis in the following days.[2][1] Following a belated surgery he never regained consciousness,[2] dying on 15 June at the age of 18.[1]

Franjo Krežma was known to musicians such as Giuseppe Verdi, Henry Vieuxtemps, and Franz Liszt. Following a fire at his parents' home that destroyed a portion of his work and his violin, his surviving compositions include one symphony, three overtures, several marches and dances for orchestra, works for string quartet, and pieces for violin.[1]

Notable works

Rêverie za violinu i veliki orkestar u As-duru (1880)[3]

Selected recordings

  • Krezma - Lieder Natasa Antoniazzo, Mia Elezovic. Bella Musica 2021

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Krežma, Franjo at Hrvatska Enciklopedija (in Croatian)
  2. ^ a b c d e Kos, Koraljka " "Virtuoz Svjetskog Formata" Archived 2023-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, Cantus no. 174, p. 14, May 2012, Zagreb, retrieved on 2015-02-27 (in Croatian)
  3. ^ "Rêverie". Muzički informativni centar (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 2015-02-27. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
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