Heinrich de Ahna

The Joachim Quartet in 1884. Left Heinrich de Ahna, above: Hausmann, right Wirth, below Joseph Joachim

Heinrich de Ahna (born June 22, 1832 in Vienna , † November 1, 1892 in Berlin ) was an Austrian violinist .

Live and act

Heinrich de Ahna, who was presumably born in Vienna in 1832 (other sources give as year of birth 1834 or 1835), received violin lessons from the age of seven. At the age of ten he became a student of Joseph Mayseder , later he received lessons from Mildner (1812–1865) in Prague . His first public appearance as a soloist took place in 1846 in the Vienna Opera House. With his father the boy went on concert tours through Germany and England. In 1849 the Duke of Coburg-Gotha awarded him the title of " Chamber Virtuoso ". In 1851 de Ahna joined the Austrian army, soon became an officer and in 1859 took part in the campaign in Italy as a first lieutenant .

From 1863 to 1869 he was a lecturer at the Stern Conservatory .

After successful art tours through Holland and Germany, de Ahna became a member of the royal orchestra in Berlin in 1862 and, after the retirement of the first concert master Hubert Ries in 1869, was his successor. In addition, he held a violin professorship at the Royal University of Music.

Together with Joseph Joachim (1st violin), Emanuel Wirth (viola) and Robert Hausmann (violoncello), de Ahna has formed the famous Joachim string quartet since 1879.

Heinrich de Ahna was considered one of the best violinists of his time. His playing was praised for his blooming, tempered tone, perfect, never-failing technique, crystal clear intonation and an artistic, noble and stylish conception .

Heinrich de Ahna died in Berlin in 1890 at the age of 60 and, like his sister Eleonore , who died young , was buried in the local St. Hedwig cemetery on Liesenstrasse . The tomb has not been preserved.

literature

Biography in: NN .: "The Joachim'sche Streichquartett" Musikalisches Wochenblatt Vol. 16, No. 3 (January 8, 1885) p. 31.
Ahna Heinrich de. In: Austrian Biographical Lexicon 1815–1950 (ÖBL). Volume 1, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 1957, p. 9.

Individual evidence

↑ List of teachers at the Stern Conservatory (1850–1936)
^ Hans-Jürgen Mende: Lexicon of Berlin tombs . Haude & Spener, Berlin 2006. p. 53.

personal data
SURNAME	Ahna, Heinrich de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Austrian violinist
DATE OF BIRTH	June 22, 1832
PLACE OF BIRTH	Vienna
DATE OF DEATH	November 1, 1892
Place of death	Berlin

[1] List of teachers at the Stern Conservatory (1850–1936)

[2] Hans-Jürgen Mende: Lexicon of Berlin tombs . Haude & Spener, Berlin 2006. p. 53.