Franjo Krežma

Born in Osijek, Austrian Empire, he showed interest for music in his early childhood and began playing the violin, gaining a reputation as a violinist. After moving to Zagreb he was taught by the violinist, composer and conductor Đuro (Gjuro) Eisenhuth. Krežma performed his first public concert on the 10.8.1870 in Sisak,^[2] at the very young age of 8, playing his violin with his three years older sister Anka (later Krežma-Barbot) backing him on the piano. Noticed and recommended by the Zagreb-born composer Leopold Alexander Zellner, he entered the music Conservatory of Vienna, Austria-Hungary at the age of 9, as the youngest student ever, already then starting to compose, and completing studies before the age of 13, in the summer of 1875.^[2]

Having finished his studies, Krežma started a European career, performing with his sister. By the age of 16, he had performed in cities across Europe like Rome, Prague, Genoa, Paris and Venice.^[1][2] On 1 July 1879, at the age of 16, he became the concert master at Benjamin Bilse's Bilse'sche Kapelle, the orchestra which would in the following years become Berlin Philharmonic.^[1]

After a successful concert in Frankfurt am Main, Germany on 6 June 1881, Krežma developed an inflammation of the inner ear, which developed into meningitis in the following days.^[2][1] Following a belated surgery he never regained consciousness,^[2] dying on 15 June at the age of 18.^[1]

Franjo Krežma was known to musicians such as Giuseppe Verdi, Henry Vieuxtemps, and Franz Liszt. Following a fire at his parents' home that destroyed a portion of his work and his violin, his surviving compositions include one symphony, three overtures, several marches and dances for orchestra, works for string quartet, and pieces for violin.^[1]

Rêverie za violinu i veliki orkestar u As-duru (1880)^[3]

• Krezma - Lieder Natasa Antoniazzo, Mia Elezovic. Bella Musica 2021