author
Fritz Kreisler
1875–1962
A violin superstar of the early 20th century, he won audiences over with a warm singing tone and a gift for turning short character pieces into favorites. Born in Vienna and later an American citizen, he left behind both dazzling performances and music that still appears on recital programs today.
1 Audiobook
Four Weeks in the Trenches: The War Story of a Violinist
by Fritz Kreisler
About the author
Born in Vienna on February 2, 1875, Fritz Kreisler showed unusual musical gifts very early. He studied at the Vienna Conservatory as a child and then at the Paris Conservatory, where he won major recognition while still young. He went on to become one of the best-known violinists of his era, admired for his expressive style, sweet tone, and relaxed, elegant stage presence.
Kreisler was not only a virtuoso performer but also a composer. Many of his short works for violin became beloved encore pieces, and for a time he presented some of them as arrangements of older music before later acknowledging that he had written them himself. That twist added to his legend, but the music endured because listeners genuinely loved its charm, lyricism, and craft.
After years of international success, he eventually settled in the United States and became an American citizen. He died in New York on January 29, 1962, but his recordings and compositions continue to introduce new listeners to a warmly romantic style of violin playing.