In memoriam

Artur Michl

21. 1. 1897  -  8. 6. 1965

Attended the Steiermärkischer Musikverein school in Graz from 1908 until 1917. Instructed in the violin by Alfred Handl and Franz Meder, in the piano by Paul Schmidt, in the organ by Hans Theophil Meyer, theory by Hans Rosensteiner and composition by Roderich Mojsisovics.
 
Gave his first public performance as a 15-year-old. First violin by 1913. Fellow students were Karl Böhm, Ernst Decsey, Hans v. Dettelbach, Friedrich Frischenschlager, Hanns Holenia, Hermann v. Schmeidl, Otto Siegl, Rudolf v. Weis Ostborn, Grete von Zieritz. One year after matriculation took over the violin and organ classes at the Graz Conservatory.
 
Later, some of whom his students: Viktor Andinger, Waldemar Bloch, Günther Eisel, Josef Kolleritsch, Hannes Kügerl, Max Schönherr, Wilhelm Schönherr, Konrad Stekl, August Stelzer, Ernst Ludwig Uray. By 1920 first concert master with the orchestra of the opera in Graz. During this time interpreted Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn and Schillings. During the 1920s and 1930s performed with the Michl Quartet and Kroemer Trio, from baroque music to the moderns (Stravinsky, Ravel, Hindemith, Szymanowsky, Pizzetti, Casella, Pfitzner, Juon, Wolf-Ferrari). Duo with Klemens Kraus.
 
His compositions comprised song, string quartet, opera, orchestral works, mass. First president of the newly-founded Steirischer Tonkünstlerbund from 1927 until 1934. 1928 on the Conservatory's advisory council, conducted the master class from the school year 1929/30 onwards. Numerous performances, for example his violin concerto op. 10 with soloist Walther Schneiderhahn in 1941. Vice-president of the Steirischer Tonkünstlerbund after its reestablishment in the year 1957 until his death.
 
My father.

What follows are snippets from his life.

First violin lessons - as a six- or seven-year-old

Certificate of Matriculation, issued by the Steirmärkischer Musikverein
in July 1917

Certificate of Matriculation, issued by the Steirmärkischer Musikverein
in July 1917, last page

"A small memory of Pierette from the 1922 music festival! Traudl Pasberger"

Artur Michl, earlier photo

Letter to Artur Michl from author
Karl Heinrich Waggerl

"To our excellent concert master as a memory, Maria Hussa, Graz 1923"

Drawing by
Paul Schmidtbauer 1924(?)

An Artur Michl postcard from the 1920s

A concert given as a 25-year-old at the Stefaniensaal in Graz
From: "Eine unvollendete Symphonie von Artur Michl", Konrad Stekl, Mitteilungen des Steirischen Tonkünstlerbundes Nummer 59, Jänner - März 1974

The Kroemer Trio - Otto Kallab, Artur Michl, Hugo Kroemer (around 1926)

Appointment to first violinist issued by the theatre department of the
Graz City Council,
11 May 1926

Market day in Amstelveld, Amsterdam - postcard from the 1920s
(from his travel to the Netherlands)

Leidschestraat Amsterdam - postcard from the 1920s

A photo from the 1920s

Lydia Lindermann
A photo from the 1920s

"With admiration and gratitude for Christmas 1926.
Your devoted student Edit von Stutz"

Maria Hussa
A photo from the 1920s or 30s

A dedication from Richard Strauss

A dedication from Richard Strauss

A dedication from ??

A dedication from Franz Schreker,
May 1931

A dedication from Guido Peters, May 1931

A carnival party?
(Artur Michl in the background)

"To concert master Michl as a friendly souvenir from the 'Michl' Hour
at Radio Graz, Hilde Lins"

In front of the Graz Opera, 1934

Vienna, State Opera - postcard from 1934

"At Prof. Kremer" - 1930s?

At a get-together in 1937
(Artur Michl is on the left)

A voucher for an edition of the opera "Der verliebte Mohr",
24 December 1946,
issued to my mother

Weltpresse, published by the British Information Service,
9 May 1948. Features an article about the music research institute in Graz during 1935, with a special mention of the premiere of the opera "Der verliebte Mohr" at the Meerschein Castle in the year 1947 (p. 8)

A get-together at the Kaplan house, 15 January 1955

The Trio Graz, Kapfenberg Concert, 21 April 1955

"A little souvenir from the premiere of 'Angelina', to you, dear uncle Artur in gratitude, yours Edith Graz, 23. XII. 1957"

In Vienna, 31 May 1959

At work, later years

"In memory of Artur Michl", Südost Tagespost, 10 June 1965

Violin made by A. Maximilian Palfner for Professor Artur Michl, Graz, 1932