Fritz Kreisler - Hall of Fame (5CD Box) (2002)

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) was an Austrian violinist and composer. Student of J. Helmesberger (violin), L. Deliba (composition). Kreisler's world fame was brought by the concerts of 1899 in Berlin. In 1893-1913 he toured Russia several times. In 1914-24 and from 1939 he lived mainly in the USA, in 1924-34 — in Berlin, in 1933-39 — in Paris. He performed until 1948. The roots of Kreisler's performing and composing work — the greatest violinist of the 20th century — in the artistic traditions of Vienna of the 2nd half of the 19th century. Kreisler's performing style is characterized by a combination of technical virtuosity and melodiousness, timbre colorfulness, rhythmic freedom and clarity. He composed mainly for the violin, a master of violin miniatures ("Viennese Caprice"). In transcriptions (including works by W. A. Mozart, F. Schubert, R. Schumann), concert cadenzas, treatments, and his own compositions, he sought to simplify technical difficulties while preserving the completeness and brilliance of the sound of the works. He created a number of stylizations ("Classical Manuscripts" for violin and piano, 1905), wrote operettas ("Apple Blossoms", 1920, New York), waltzes ("Joy of Love", "Torments of Love" for violin and piano), etc.