Casimir von Pászthory (1 April 1886 – 18 February 1966) was an Austrian composer. His music, which is stylistically rooted in the Wagner-Strauss tradition, without renouncing elements of his own style, has largely fallen into oblivion today. It experienced an at least partial renaissance in 2004 with a revival of the opera Tilman Riemenschneider on the occasion of the 1300th anniversary of the city of Würzburg.
Life
Born in Budapest, Pászthory was the son of a senior government official of the Royal Curia, who came from an old Hungarian family. His mother was the pianist Gisela von Voigt, who came from a German noble family with origins in Hanover. As a former pupil of Franz Liszt, she was active until her old age and at the age of 84 she played one of the master's piano concertos on his grand piano at a Liszt celebration in Budapest.
After his mother's second marriage to August Göllerich, Pászthory came to Nuremberg where he attended the Gymnasium. He then studied at the Law Faculty in Vienna, but concentrated mainly on his music studies, especially cello lessons with Paul Grümmer. After extensive travels, which took him all over Europe and as far as Asia Minor, he settled in Vienna, where he worked for many years as a teacher of cello at the Conservatory. In addition, he took part in the musical life of his time, among other things, as accompanist for his songs on the piano and as conductor of his orchestral works.
His partner Dora Baubin, whom he had married in 1911, participated intensively in his artistic work and wrote the textbooks for the stage works Die Prinzessin und der Schweinehirt and Tilman Riemenschneider.
Pászthory was a member of the NSDAP. When Pászthory lost his home and belongings in Vienna as a result of the war events of 1945, he moved to Salzburg in 1950 after a long stay at Attersee, where he was mainly occupied with composition. In 1953 he was awarded the title of professor by the Austrian president. For his eightieth birthday, the award of the Golden Ring of Honour of the City of Salzburg was planned, but could no longer take place. He spent the last days of his life in Wermelskirchen where he died aged 79.
Work
Stage works
Operas
Die drei gerechten Kammacher. Musikalische Komödie in zwei Akten (drei Bildern). Text nach der Erzählung von Gottfried Keller von Dora von Paszthory. Uraufgeführt an der Städtischen Oper Graz (6. Februar 1932). Die Prinzessin und der Schweinehirt. Märchenoper in drei Akten (acht Bildern). Text, frei nach Hans Christian Andersen, von Dora von Paszthory. – Wien: Universal-Edition 1939. Uraufgeführt am Nationaltheater Weimar 1937. Weitere Aufführungen am Salzburger Landestheater 1955/56. Tilman Riemenschneider. Oper in zwei Teilen (acht Bildern). Text von Dora von Paszthory (1942). Uraufgeführt im Theater Basel 1959. Eine gekürzte Fassung (ORF) liegt vor. Eine Weihnachtsmusik zu Ludwig Thomas Weihnachtslegende "Heilige Nacht" für kleines Orchester, gemischten Chor, Soli und einen Sprecher (1944–48). Uraufgeführt im ORF, Landesstudio Oberösterreich.
Ballets
Arvalany. Tanzspiel in fünf Bildern. Buch von Elza von Dohnanyi-Galafres. Uraufgeführt an der Dresdner Staatsoper (7 December 1939). Weitere Aufführungen in Weimar und Chemnitz (1941). Der Erlenhügel. Phantastisches Ballett nach dem Märchen von Hans Christian Andersen. Uraufgeführt am Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe 1936. Isbrand und Isigildis. Tanzlegende aus dem frühen Mittelalter. Uraufgeführt am Nationaltheater Weimar 1938.
Melodramas
Was der Friedel in der Weihnacht. Textdichter unbekannt. Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke, op. 1. Text von R. M. Rilke (1914). Wurde auch ins Französische übersetzt und erlebte zahlreiche Aufführungen. Die wilden Schwäne. Text by H. Ch. Andersen (1937).