KREISLER, FRITZ. (1875-1962). Austrian-born, American violinist and composer; one of the most popular classical musicians of all time. TLS. (“Fritz Kreisler”). 1p. 8vo London, May 7, 1921. On London’s Hyde Park Hotel stationery. To Mrs. Friedlander.

“Please forgive me for answering your kind letter through the medium of a typewriter, but I am overwhelmed with correspondence and would not be able to get through with it if I wrote personally.

It would give me wife and me great pleasure to accept your kind invitation, but unfortunately our stay in London this time is very short and all the time at our disposal is full with previous engagements.

I hope, however, that we shall have the pleasure of availing ourselves of your kindness at some future date and remain in anticipation of such…”

Kreisler began his musical training at age four and, in a few years, became the youngest person ever admitted to the Vienna Conservatory. After completing his formal training at 12, he embarked on a career of performance and composition, whose virtuosity was acknowledged when Edward Elgar dedicated his Violin Concerto to him in 1910. “Kreisler was unique. Without exertion (he practiced little) he achieved a seemingly effortless perfection. There was never any conscious technical display… In fact his individual style was… ahead of his time and may explain his comparatively slow rise to fame. Yet there is hardly a violinist in our century who has not acknowledged admiration of and indebtedness to Kreisler,” (The New Grove Dictionary).

Folded once with normal creasing and wear. In very good condition.