Born in Vienna, April 9, 1855
Died in Vienna, April 26, 1907
- Part of a family of Austrian musicians, Hellmesberger was a violinist and composer who became known popularly as “Crown Prince Pepi” by the time he was 18 (“heir” to his family’s musical legacy).
- Hellmesberger held various conducting posts throughout his life, including working with Mahler at the Vienna Philharmonic (that is, until a scandalous affair forced him to resign and settle for less impressive conducting posts)
- Fun fact: in 1867 (he was about 12) he led his father’s string ensemble in a performance of Mozart’s Musical Joke. The whole group wore 18th C. garb and powdered wigs. This performance was such a hit that it overshadowed the premiere of Strauss Jr.’s The Beautiful Blue Danube, which came earlier in the same concert.1
Sources
- Richard Evidon, “Hellmesberger family,” Grove Music Online (2001) accessed October 23, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000012740.