Kaiser Franz Joseph I (1830-1916) (full color)

Franz Joseph I and the music of the nineteenth century

Franz Joseph and Liszt

In 1866, Liszt composed the Hungarian coronation ceremony for Franz Joseph and Elisabeth of Bavaria (Latin: Missa coronationalis). In 1871, the Hungarian Prime Minister Gyula Andrássy made a new attempt writing on 4 June 1871, to the Hungarian King (the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I), requesting an annual grant of 4,000 Gulden and the rank of a "Königlicher Rat" ("Crown Councillor") for Liszt, who in return would permanently settle in Budapest, directing the orchestra of the National Theatre as well as musical institutions.

Franz Joseph and Mahler and Brahms

Brahms asks to meet Mahler in 1890. Johannes Brahms, then 57 years old and already an exalted musician, attends the Budapest opera where he is so pleased with the work, that he demands to be introduced to the conductor. It is when Mahler and Brahms meet and spend the rest of the evening together. That meeting was key to the future success of Mahler, since years later, and thanks to a letter of recommendation that Johannes Brahms himself wrote to Franz Josef I, Emperor (1830-1916), Mahler was elected Director of the Vienna State Opera. Despite the great differences in their ideas about music, Mahler had a good relationship with Brahms.

Franz Joseph and Dvorak

The score of the 8th symphony was composed on the occasion of his admission to Prague Academy and dedicated "To the Bohemian Academy of Emperor Franz Joseph for the Encouragement of Arts and Literature, in thanks for my election."

Just to name a few links that Franz Joseph had with the important composers of the nineteenth century.

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