MEMORIAL CONCERT ON THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF CARL ZELLER’S DEATH
Two years ago the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna resumed performing public concerts after a decade-long pause -for the first time with its own ensemble – and received support from public authorities, just as had been the case in the first years of its existence. On 17th August 1998, the 100th anniversary of the death of Carl Zeller was commemorated. Zeller, alongside Franz von Suppè, Johann Strauss, and Karl Millöcker, was the fourth great and important composer of the Golden Age of Viennese operetta. Since he had been a high-ranking official in the Imperial-Royal Ministry of Education and Culture, the present-day Federal Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs helped organize the commemorative event in honour of this great Austrian composer.
On 4th November 1998, under the patronage of the Minister of Education Elisabeth Gehrer, a concert featuring excerpts from the works of Carl Zeller took place in the baroque Palais Lobkowitz in Vienna (our cover photo shows its entrance). The palace is located in the immediate vicinity of the Albertina and the Vienna State Opera. In the splendid setting of the packed ceremonial hall – the famous Eroica Hall, named after Beethoven’s Third Symphony („Eroica“), which had its premiere there in 1804 – Teresa Gardner (soprano), Susanne Göhr (soprano, who had stepped in at short notice for Susanne Fugger), Peter Widholz (tenor), and Friedrich Faltus (baritone) were the performers. For the first time at a concert of the Society, the boy soloist Mario Stöckel also performed. The musical direction was entrusted to Leopold Großmann, one of the most acknowledged experts in authentic operetta interpretation, who in the following years was to become one of the most important pillars of the Strauss Society’s productions.
The concert was moderated by Christine Stremprok, a member of the Strauss Society. She provided an overview of the life and works of Carl Zeller and was also responsible for selecting the musical pieces used to illustrate her presentation.
At the end of the concert the performers received thunderous applause from the audience, roses from the Johann Strauss Society and words full of gratitude and appreciation from the President of the Society, Prof. Franz Mailer.
