Here stands the Ignaz Brüll Plaque a testament to a remarkable life. This bronze memorial commemorates Ignaz Brüll a pianist composer and teacher. It was dedicated on November 7 1946 the 100th anniversary of his birth. The plaque is a tribute from the Horak Conservatory where Brüll taught. He was a co-director there from 1878 until 1907.
Brüll was born in Prostějov Moravia on November 7 1846. His family moved to Vienna in 1848. He was a prodigious talent. He started learning piano from his mother at the age of eight. At ten he began studying with Julius Epstein. Epstein was a professor at the Vienna Conservatory. He was also a friend of Johannes Brahms. A year later young Ignaz started composition lessons with Johann Rufinatscha. He also studied instrumentation with Felix Otto Dessoff.
Brüll’s musical career soared. His first opera Die Bettler von Samarkand was written in 1864. Sadly it was never performed. However his second opera Das goldene Kreuz The Golden Cross was a huge success. It premiered in Berlin in 1875. Emperor Wilhelm I himself complimented Brüll. The opera’s success propelled Brüll to fame. It was later performed in London by the Carl Rosa Opera Company.
Brüll was not only a composer. He was a celebrated pianist. He toured extensively. He gave concerts in Germany and England. He played with such virtuosity that even Franz Liszt Anton Rubinstein and Clara Schumann praised his skills. Brahms himself highly valued Brüll. He often chose Brüll to premiere his own works. Brüll’s exceptional sight-reading was indispensable.
Brüll’s close friendship with Brahms is well documented. His home became a social hub. Many prominent musicians and artists visited. These included Carl Goldmark Julius Epstein Robert Fuchs Anton Door and even Gustav Mahler. He spent summers in his holiday home the Berghof in Unterach on the Attersee. It became a gathering place for musicians and artists.
Despite the success of Das goldene Kreuz Brüll’s later compositions didn’t reach the same level of popularity. However his reputation as a pianist remained undiminished. He died in Vienna on September 17 1907. The Ignaz Brüll Plaque ensures his legacy endures. It stands as a reminder of his significant contributions to music. It is a fitting tribute to a man of exceptional talent and character.