Hans Swarowsky - Personal archive

Letter to students May 1975

Having to retire from the Vienna University of Music, Swarowsky wrote this letter to his students:

A letter from Helmut Wobisch discussing details for the planned conducting course in Ossiach in 1975, together with an annoucement of the course. Swarowsky could not participate in Ossiach due to his declining condition: he thought at a course in Vienna in July and was admitted to hospital on the last day of the course:

Wiener Meisterkurse 1975

A draft program of the Vienna Masterclasses from 1975 with Swarowsky's annotations.

This was Swarowskys last course as he had to cancel his participation in Ossiach that summer.

Swarowsky was admitted to hospital on the last day of the course, his cancer has become incurable:

Ernst von Siemens Foundation 1974

In this letter from June 1974, the Siemens Foundation confirms a grant of SFR 15.000 for Swarowskys students at the Vienna Music Academy, which Swarowsky is invited to distribute according to his own assessment:

La Scala invitation for the 1975-76 season

Claudio Abbado wanted to invite Swarowsky to conduct a concert at La Scala in the 1975 - 1976 season,

and suggested following program:

Schoenberg: 1st psalm, Kol Nidrei, violin concerto (with Accardo as soloist)

and extracts from Schumann's Genoveva.

ORF October 1974

A letter from ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Station) confirming an invitation of Swarowsky for a concert in March 1976. The full planned program is unknown but Swarowsky has suggested Heinrich Schiff for the Monn Cello Concerto in Schoenbergs arrangement:

With Zubin Mehta 1974 in Linz

With Zubin Mehta at the Brucknerhaus Linz in October 1974...

Letter Hannes Androsch March 1973

Hannes Androsch, then Finance Minister of Austria, thanks Hans Swarowsky...

Letter Willi Reich

Swarowsky knew Willi Reich since the 1920s, when rivaling for Julia Laszky's love. It's Willi Reich who introduces Swarowsky to Siegmund Freud. In this very friendly letter, Reich asks about a Mahler article Swarowsky wrote, mentions that his Schoenberg book has just been translated into Japanese and offers to review Swarowsky's recordings for the Neue Zuercher Zeitung, signing off as his 'old and commensurately senile friend'.

Vienna State Opera Fidelio 1973

This performance was dedicated to celebrate Swarowsky's 75th birthday:

Leipzig 1972

In this note from September 1972, the administration of the Leipzig Gewandhaus congratulates Swarowsky to the high critical acclaim for his last concert with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, and enquires his availability for the 1974/75 season for a concert with a planned program of Mathis the Painter and Bruckners symphony No. 7: Swarowsky conducted a program with Mathis the Painter and Bruckners symphony No. 5 on December 5 and 6, 1974

With Bruno Kreisky in 1972

Together with Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky in 1972

Conducting course Orkney Springs 1967

The League of American Orchestras organised a conducting masterclass in 1967, and invited for the first time Hans Swarowsky:

With Abbado, Kreisky and Milstein

From left to right: Swarowsky, Claudio Abbado, Bruno Kreisky (Austrian Chancelor), and Nathan Milstein:

Mozart's Solfeggi (Universal Edition)

Swarowsky's proof copy of his edition (Universal Edition) of Mozart's "Solfeggi", the little-known singing exercises for his wife Constanze, with Swarowsky’s correction markings (also the Italian text)

Mahler 3 in Los Angeles

Zubin Mehta invited Hans Swarowsky to conduct Mahler's 3rd symphony with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra in February 1965:

Creation November 1963

This performance of Haydn's Creation was a gala concert at the Vienna Konzerthaus to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Vienna Music Academy (now University)

Rostropovich, Vienna 1962

With Mstislav Rostropovich and the Niederösterreichische Tonkünstler at the Vienna Musikverein on 3.6.1962. On the programm:

Dvorak Cello Concerto

Tchaikovsky Rococco Variations

Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1

Letter Jaroslav Weinberger 1961

Visitimg Vienna, Weinberger is writing to Swarowsky asking if it's possible to meet:

With Wilhelm Backhaus in 1961

Wilhelm Backhaus was awarded on this occasion the prestigious Beethoven ring:

Swarowsky private library in 1961

Hans Swarowsky in his private library, which also containted several thousand items of first editions:

With Alma Mahler in Vienna 1960

Swarowsky conducted Mahler's 3rd Symphony for the composers 100th birthday in 1960, and also met again Alma Mahler, who came to Vienna specifically for that occasion. They knew each other since the 1920s, having met in Swarowskys sister Gina Kauss's literary salons.

Portrait Hans Swarowsky

This is one of several photos taken by Swarosky's son Anton.

Letter Mali Pfitzner

Mali Pfitzner, the widow of Hans Pfitzner, thanks in this letter Swarowsky having conducted a performance of Palestrina without rehearsal. 'Finally there is someone in Vienna who can conduct Palestrina'.

Mali refers to two performences of the cantata she heard with Keilberth in Munich and how much she enjoys being in Vienna. The last time apparently was together with Swarowsky in the air-raid shelter of the hotel Imperial in May 1945.

Louise Zemlinsky letter

A letter from Louise Zemlinsky, the widow of the composer...

Mahler III, Vienna Symphony Orchestra 1957

Swarowsky's breaktrough performance of Mahler's 3rd symphony (the first performance in Vienna since 1946) with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in the 'New Music' series of the Vienna Konzerthaus. It's significant that the concert was put on in the Mozart Saal, seemingly in anticipation of a low audience turn out.

Lecturing at the Vienna Academy of Music

Swarowsky's class at the Vienna Music Academy in the Lothringerstrasse

Der Rosenkavalier, Teatro di San Carlo 1951

In 1951, Swarowsky conducted a production of Rosenkavalier in Italian at the Teatro San Carlo, with Giulietta Simionato as Ottavio.

Swarowsky with his students

Hans Swarowsky with a group of his students (among others Zubin Mehta and Claudio Abbado)

at a 'Heuriger' in Vienna:

Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Musikverein 1946

The Vienna Symphony Orchestra's first concert in the 1946 subscription series:

Vienna Symphony contract 1946

Swarowsky's contract with the Municipality of Vienna...

Richard Strauss photographed by Swarowsky

Hans Swarowsky was an avid photographer, at some point also president of the German Leica association.

He took these two pictures in Baden near Zürich during one of Strauss's frequent visits.

Julius Marx, letter 1946

In his letter to the Allied Forces, Julius Marx confirms that Swarowsky was working for the Allies during the war and that the messages he sent without consideration for his personal risk where of utmost importance, both politically and militarily:

Swarowsky's list of supported people in Cracow

On this sheet, Swarowsky listed the names of all players of the Philharmonic Orchestra in Cracow, who he has supported. His handwritten note reads: List of furntiture I procured for members of the Philharmonic Orchestra:

Renowned father located by son

After coming to Germany with the US Army, Anton Swarosky located his father in a villa in Pöcking, where he was, presumably with the help of Richard Strauss, hiding from the Gestapo during the last months of the war. This incident was reported in a publication of the US Army:

With Richard Strauss in Salzburg

This picture with Richard Strauss in Salzburg dates possibly from the period of the 'Danae' rehearsals in 1944:

Salzburg Summer 1944

An announcement about the cancellation of the Salzburg theatre and music summer in 1944 due to the events of 20th July:

Die Liebe der Danae Salzburg 1944: annotated program

Swarowsky annotated copy of the program for the dress rehearsal of Die Liebe der Danae in Salzburg.

The opening night was cancelled on Hitler's orders due to the events of 20th July:

Conducting a concert in Krakow

The concerts were often visited by soldiers and had "a very tragic undertone, thousands of soldiers listened to music for the last time in their lives. It has always been frightening when departing troops came to a concert in closed groups ... "(Swarowsky).

It's noteworthy that Swarowsky managed on several occasions to have all official Nazi signs removed from the concert hall and also programs. He also conducted concerts (illegally) for Polish audiences.
Swarowsky conducted the last concert in Krakow on 14th January, two days before taking the last train ouf Krakow together with the Pfitzner family. The Red Army occupies Krakow on the 17th.

The solo part on this occasion is played by concertmaster Fritz Sonleitner.

Krakow: Ariadne, 24 06 1944

This performance of Ariadne was part of a series of concerts to celebrate Strauss's 80th birthday. Krakow was besides Vienna the only city to host such events:

First concert in Krakow: March 9, 1944

Dr Hans Franck (governor-general of the occupied parts of Poland in Silesia and Galicia) wanted to set up a cultural establishment in Krakow from the status of Vienna or Berlin and was looking for suitable conductors:

Program notes Krauss Salzburg 1943

Hans Swarowksy's program notes to an all Johann Strauss concert with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,

conducted by Clemens Krauss:

Arabella Salzburg 1943

Being appointed dramaturge in Salzburg in April 1943, Hans Swarowsky wrote the notes to this production of Arabella:

Salzburg program Georgescu

Hans Swarowsky wrote the concert program for this concert conducted by Roumanian conductor George Georgescu. Presumably Swarowsky met Georgescu for the first time during his time as repetiteur at the Bucharest opera in the 1920s:

Theater Zurich, March 1939

The Swiss immigration police - obeying an entirely "xenophobic" policy - orders the termination of Swarowsky's contract...

Strauss and Krauss 1939

A photo of Richard Strauss and Clemens Krauss with a double dedication to Swarowsky from 1939:

With Mengelberg and Strauss in Amsterdam

Hans Swarowsky conducted a series of performances of Arabella in Amsterdam in 1936. Richard Strauss was present during the rehearsals and conducted also the opening night.

Reference Kehm 1931

General Director Kehm's reference for Swarowsky in 1931:

Mahler 3 with Mahler's notes

In April 1920, Swarowsky hears Mahler’s third symphony for the first time (conducted by Furtwängler) and due to this impression decides to become a conductor – this symphony should take a special place throughout his entire life; for his 21st birthday, Julia Laszky acquires an Edition of Mahler’s 3rd symphony from Universal Edition as a birthday present; Swarowsky will conduct from this score throughout the rest of his life. This score (first edition) contains corrections Mahler made after performances conducted by himself.

Dr Josef Kranz ca 1925

Leopoldine Swarowsky (1881 – 1970, daughter of a Viennese Police Inspector and actress at the Vienna Volkstheater) gives birth out of wedlock to Hans, and relocates, as customary at the time in such circumstances, for several months to Budapest. There is no definite clarity about the father: most likely it is Dr. Josef Kranz (1862 - 1934). Dr Josef Kranz, banker and industrialist stemming from a Polish rabbi family in Ausschwitz, becomes over the course of just a few years one of the richest men in the Austrian Monarchy (according to a bonmot of the day, the two most influential people in the Monarchy were Franz Josef and Kranz Josef)...
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Swarowsky & Schoenberg

This postcard was used as invitation to Schoenberg's 'private society' concerts:

Swarowsky had private lessons with Schoenberg since hearing Schoenberg in rehearsals of the Gurre - Lieder in 1920, subsequently Swarowsky also took part in Schoenberg's 'society' concerts, playing piano and harmonium.

Gurre Lieder annotated

Swarowsky's own score of Schoenberg's Gurre Lieder...

School grades 1917

Having been recruited to the Austro - Hungarian Army in WWI, Hans Swarowsky had to do his final exams in secondary school early in the year as so called 'emergency A-levels (Notmatura), bevor being sent to war in Italy.

Mozart Festival Salzburg 1910

Hans Swarowsky attended the Salzburg Mozart Festival in 1910...

Weingartner 1910

Swarowsky heard Beethoven's Ninth for the first time at this festival concert in 1910, celebrating the 50th anniversaty of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra's subscription series. Felix Weingartner became Swarowsky's teacher from 1920 onwards and tt's thanks to Weingartner that Swarowsky got his employment at the Vienna Volksoper in 1922.