Hellmesberger, Joseph II (EN)

Hellmesberger Joseph II, pseudonym Pepi, *9 April 1855 Vienna, †26 April 1907 Vienna, violinist, conductor and composer, son of Joseph I. He learned to play the violin from his father at the conservatory; at the age of 8, he was already a soloist in a conservatory concert, and at the age of 15 he played the violin part in his father’s quartet. During his three years of military service, he continued his artistic career as a soloist with the orchestra of the city regiment, which played an important role in the musical life of Vienna. In 1878, he became a soloist of the Hofkapelle and Hofoper and, in the same year, a violin professor at the conservatory. In 1884, he was appointed Konzertmeister and ballet music conductor of the Hofoper. At the same time, he served as conductor at the Ringtheater and the Carltheater; in 1889, he became Vizehofkapellmeister and in 1890 Hofkapellmeister, succeeding H. Richter; in 1900–03 he conducted Philharmonic concerts (after G. Mahler’s resignation). In 1891, he took over the leadership of the quartet from his father, with which he went on concert tours, including to Turkey and Egypt. In 1903, as a result of rumours and intrigues, he was forced to resign from his positions. He moved to Stuttgart for a year, where he worked as a Hofkapellmeister, and then returned to Vienna. After three years spent composing and conducting mediocre orchestras, he died of lung disease.

Hellmesberger’s operettas are particularly noteworthy among his compositions. Although they did not play a significant role in the history of the genre, some of them were frequently performed.

Literature: J. Freyenfels Mahler und der “fesche Pepi“ – eine Konfrontation und ihre Elemente, “Neue Zeitschrift für Musik” CXXXII, 1971.