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Leopold Großmann

 

It was a great surprise for Leopold Großmann and a historic moment for the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna, when he was given the Golden Johann Strauss Award at his 80th birthday dinner on 19th August 2013. The unprecedented honour was completely unexpected for Leopold Grossmann, who was the first person to receive the Golden Johann Strauss statuette. The ceremony was held in the Marchfelderhof Restaurant in Deutsch-Wagram. Since the presentation of this esteemed award to Leopold Großmann, it has been decided to grant this honour annually to personalities who have earned special merits for the maintenance of the music of Johann Strauss, which, as Prof. Widholz pointed out in his keynote speech, was particularly true of  the composer and conductor Leopold Großmann, a Hans Swarowsky disciple.

Throughout his career the award winner has intensively occupied himself with Viennese dance and operetta music and tried to get as close as possible to the composers‘ interpretations – above all that of Johann Strauss. Leopold Großmann embarked on his career at the Stadttheater Baden. From1963 to 1968 he was engaged as the principal conductor at the Raimundtheater, a theatre famous for staging operettas. In addition, he was invited to perform as „ guest conductor“ not only in European, but also in Asian and American countries. For 21 years he worked as musical director of the operetta and music classes at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna. Peter Widholz also mentioned numerous other activities of the award winner, above all his frequent performances as piano accompanist of internationally renowned singers and his great number of compositions ( about 300). As the crowning conclusion Peter Widholz sang one of the composer’s songs, in which he had set Franz Grillparzer’s verses „ Hast du vom Kahlenberg das Land dir rings besehen“ to music.

Hedwig Aigner-Strauss, the head of the Strauss family, handed the Golden Johann Strauss statuette over to the award winner. In his acceptance speech Leopold Großmann expressed his thanks and in his unassuming way emphasized that he did not feel worthy of such an accolade. However, he could not hide his emotion and genuine joy.

Many prominent colleagues were present at the gala dinner to congratulate Leoplod Großmann, such as the Austrian film actress Waltraud Haas,  Marcus Strahl, Burgtheater actress Ulli Fessl, TV legend Hilli Reschl, Birgit Sarata, Univ.Prof.Dr. Paul Wagner, great grandson of Edmund Eysler, with his wife Melanie, operetta buffo and theatre director  Sandor Nemeth with his wife  Gaby Bischof, violin virtuoso Prof. Gergely Szücs and Erika Conrads, the widow of the well-known radio and TV legend Heinz Conrads, whom Leopold Großmann had often accompanied on the piano.

 

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