Victor Heinisch
Victor Heinisch was born on 13 September 1866 in Sondershausen (Germany). He studied music at the conservatory of his home town from 1883 to 1887. It seems that he settled in Hamburg after his studies, worked as a harp teacher and became harpist at the Stadttheater. In the 1890s Victor Heinisch was appointed kapellmeister of the Hamburg Stadttheater – under the prinicipal kapellmeister Gustav Mahler! Gustav Mahler left Hamburg for Vienna in 1897 and began his famous stint at the Hofoper. Victor Heinisch remained in Hamburg and in 1900 was appointed the kapellmeister for the newly founded Deutsches Schauspielhaus. In 1902 Gustav Mahler hired him away to become the prinicipal harpist of the Hofoper in Vienna. Victor Heinisch became also a member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra the same year.
In addition Victor Heinisch also made his mark as a composer. His first known composition is the opera comique „Meister Rupert“ on a libretto by Hermann Hartig which dates from 1893. In 1902 he composed a Messa Requiem which was dedicated to the memory of King Umberto of Italy. For this composition Victor Heinisch was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy. In 1909 Victor Heinisch conducted the performance of his „Totentanz“ and Rhapsody with the Wiener Tonkünstlerorchester.
Victor Heinisch died on 12 February 1910 in Mödling (Austria) as a result of a stomach cancer.
Victor Heinisch became only 44 years old and focused on his work as a harpist and conductor therefore his work catalogue is quite small. I could find references for these compositions:
- Meister Rupert, opera comique (1893, also titled „Der Musikus von Augsburg“)
- Symphonic poem „Totentanz“, for orchestra (1896)
- Romance for violin and harp op.30 „Träumerei“ (1896)
- O trockne diese Thräne nicht, for voice and piano (1899)
- Du bist wie eine Blume, for voice and piano (1900)
- Der Verachtete, for voice and piano (1900)
- Herbst, for voice and piano (1900)
- Harald der Viking, opera (1900)
- Rhapsodie „Ein verlorenes Märchenland, unerreichbar dem Sehnenden“, for orchestra (1900)
- Abendlied, for voice and piano (1901)
- Ich kenne wohl ein Augenpaar, for voice and piano (1901)
- Vergilbte Blätter, for voice and piano (1902)
- Messa Requiem, for soli, choir, orchestra and organ „In memory of King Umberto of Italy“ (performed in Hamburg 1902)
- Salome, opera (1903, parts for performed in Rostock in 1906)
- Das Vergissmeinnicht, for voice and piano op.16 No.1
- Mei’ Bärble, for voice and piano op.16 No.2
- Elegy for violin, cello, harp and harmonium
- Dunkle Augen, for voice and piano
- Ballade, for voice and piano
- O könnt’ nur einmal mein müdes Haupt, for voice and piano
- Liebestraum
Some of his works were published by Giessel in Bayreuth, Zimmermann in Leipzig, Carl Simon in Berlin and Giudici e Strada in Turin (Italy)
In my possession is the autograph manuscript of the piano reduction of the opera "Salome" by Victor Heinisch. The work was composed in 1903 and uses a libretto by Emil Schultze-Malkowsky (1880-1964).
And one can find a small article in the Hamburger Fremdenblatt from 10 March 1904 announcing the completion of the opera and reporting that several opera houses are already interested in the work. It especially mentions the interest of the Vienna Hofoper and that Gustav Mahler will examine the composition:
But Gustav Mahler's stint at the Vienna Hofoper was not characterized by many premieres or much contemporary music. He focused on other aspects of the opera performance and so "Salome" by Victor Heinisch did not withstand the inspection by Gustav Mahler.
But it seems that at least the part "Tanz der Salome" came on stage on 17. January 1906 in Rostock, performed by the Stadt- und Theaterorchester under Heinrich Schulz.
concert announcement in the "Hamburger Fremdenblatt" from 3 January 1897
