Erich Schenk Prize

The Erich Schenk Prize is aimed at young artists interpreting classical music and has been awarded by the Mozart Community of Vienna since 2003 . The award bears the name of the musicologist Erich Schenk, who was discredited by his high degree of National Socialist compliance .

The price

The “Erich Schenk Prize”, awarded for the first time in 2003, was donated by Margaretha Schenk (1912–1999), widow of the musicologist Erich Schenk. In her will, she bequeathed a substantial amount to the Mozart community in Vienna on the condition that a promotion prize for young musicians bearing the name of her deceased husband was to be offered. Since Erich Schenk's Nazi past overshadowed the price, the Mozart Community in Vienna felt compelled to issue an opinion, which was written by Schenk's student, Theophil Antonicek . It says: “His undoubtedly colorful and authoritarian personality, together with his scientific competence, earned him great admiration from his students, in connection with his opaque behavior during the Nazi era after his death, but also a lot of hostility and rejection. A real judgment cannot be made about the last-mentioned chapter due to the lack of a well-founded overall investigation. Since his death in 1974 there has been constant speculation about his role during the Second World War. For example, individual references to pro-regime and even anti-Semitic attitudes stand in the way of his apparent involvement in preventing the deportation of Guido Adler . In any case, hasty condemnations are just as out of place as the inclusion of the award winners and his widow's legacy in the conflict Belongs to the realm of legends.

Since 2010, the name of the award has been " Promotion Prize for Young Artists - Margaretha Schenk Foundation "

Bearer of the Prize

The previous winners of the Erich Schenk Prize were:

• Piano duo Kutrowatz (2003)
• Matthias Soucek (2004)
• Charlotte Baumgartner (2005)
• Petra Stump / Heinz-Peter Linshalm (2006)
• Ute Ziemer (2007)
• Philharmonic Steude Quartet (2008)
• Matthias Bartolomey (2009)
• Wolfgang Schwaiger (2012)
• Mitra Kotte (2014)

President of the Mozart Community in Vienna

• Heinrich Damisch (1913–1945)
• Erik Werba (1946–1987)
• Hans Peter Wertitsch (1987–1990)
• Walter Berry (1991-1993)
• Michael Heltau (1994-1998)
• Helmut Kretschmer (since 1998).

Web links

• Homepage of the Mozart community
• Homepage piano duo Kutrowatz
• Homepage Matthias Soucek
• Charlotte Baumgartner ( Memento from October 1, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
• Homepage Duo Stump-Linshalm
• Ute Ziemer and homepage
• Homepage Steude Quartet

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Mozartgemeinde Wien, accessed October 21, 2010 ( Memento of the original from August 13, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ see the evidence in the article Erich Schenk .
3. ↑ Contact address according to the web service of the City of Vienna : SR Dr. Helmut Kretschmer (President of the Mozart Community), Tel. [phone], email: [e-mail]