Michael Lorenz
@michaelorenz.bsky.social
musicologist, historian, cellist, photographer
This is not fake. This journal really exists.
November 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM
This is not fake. This journal really exists.
A medical report from a Viennese doctor from 1842
November 11, 2025 at 8:01 AM
A medical report from a Viennese doctor from 1842
On a photo from 1885 we see the painter Rudolf von Alt on the far right painting the Faßzieherhaus (die "Rondelle"). When the old house was replaced with a new building in 1899, the architectural tradition was so strong that the new building also received a round bay window
November 10, 2025 at 8:04 AM
On a photo from 1885 we see the painter Rudolf von Alt on the far right painting the Faßzieherhaus (die "Rondelle"). When the old house was replaced with a new building in 1899, the architectural tradition was so strong that the new building also received a round bay window
In July 1791, Leopold Hofmann recommended Mathias Altmütter as the successor to the deceased violinist Markus Hofer. Hofmann emphasized that Altmütter possessed "the tone required for such a large church" ("daß dieser eine für eine so große Kirchen erforderliche ausgiebigende Intonnation besizet").
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 AM
In July 1791, Leopold Hofmann recommended Mathias Altmütter as the successor to the deceased violinist Markus Hofer. Hofmann emphasized that Altmütter possessed "the tone required for such a large church" ("daß dieser eine für eine so große Kirchen erforderliche ausgiebigende Intonnation besizet").
An unknown letter from Franz Lehar to an unknown editor-in-chief about the beginning of Lehar's work on "Paganini". This document is in private hands.
November 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
An unknown letter from Franz Lehar to an unknown editor-in-chief about the beginning of Lehar's work on "Paganini". This document is in private hands.
Antonio Salieri's list of the best of 14 boys who took part in the audition for the court chapel on September 30, 1806. There was certainly such a list from 1808 with Schubert's name on it, but it was apparently already stolen in the 19th century.
November 8, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Antonio Salieri's list of the best of 14 boys who took part in the audition for the court chapel on September 30, 1806. There was certainly such a list from 1808 with Schubert's name on it, but it was apparently already stolen in the 19th century.
Johann Georg Purebl, father of the clarinettist Joseph Purebl (1768-1838), was born in 1739, in Reichenhall, illegitimate son of Johann "Puröber" and Josepha Gurkher. Joseph Purebl was transferred in a hurry from Salzburg to Vienna in 1807 to replace Johann Stadler who had died in 1804.
November 8, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Johann Georg Purebl, father of the clarinettist Joseph Purebl (1768-1838), was born in 1739, in Reichenhall, illegitimate son of Johann "Puröber" and Josepha Gurkher. Joseph Purebl was transferred in a hurry from Salzburg to Vienna in 1807 to replace Johann Stadler who had died in 1804.
You are mistaken again. There are lots of documents that list her correct date of birth. Here's one that she signed. Never trust what you read online.
November 7, 2025 at 7:27 PM
You are mistaken again. There are lots of documents that list her correct date of birth. Here's one that she signed. Never trust what you read online.
Gustav Gugitz had to tell posterity with his ballpen that he knows the first names of the architect Skruppi.
November 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Gustav Gugitz had to tell posterity with his ballpen that he knows the first names of the architect Skruppi.
Lise Meitner was born on 17 November 1878.
November 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Lise Meitner was born on 17 November 1878.
In 1801, a complaint was filed to the Vienna municipal court that appraisers, who were also auctioneers, had themselves acquired pieces from these estates. The court delivered an order to the head of the Sperrskommissäre, secretary Joseph Setznagel which contains the following wonderful sentence.
November 6, 2025 at 7:51 AM
In 1801, a complaint was filed to the Vienna municipal court that appraisers, who were also auctioneers, had themselves acquired pieces from these estates. The court delivered an order to the head of the Sperrskommissäre, secretary Joseph Setznagel which contains the following wonderful sentence.
Antonio Salieri's daughter Anna only died in 1868.
November 4, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Antonio Salieri's daughter Anna only died in 1868.
Today I went through my father's military records in the Archives of the Republic and found a photo of him that I had never seen.
November 4, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Today I went through my father's military records in the Archives of the Republic and found a photo of him that I had never seen.
Today is the 34th birthday of my daughter Magdalena.
November 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Today is the 34th birthday of my daughter Magdalena.
Pietro di Galvagni (1797-1868) owned a collection of 172 paintings that were estimated at 25,421 gulden. A 10th of this amount alone consisted of Louis Gallait's "The Last Moments of Count Egmont" from 1848. Today this painting is owned by the Hermitage Museum.
November 3, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Pietro di Galvagni (1797-1868) owned a collection of 172 paintings that were estimated at 25,421 gulden. A 10th of this amount alone consisted of Louis Gallait's "The Last Moments of Count Egmont" from 1848. Today this painting is owned by the Hermitage Museum.
A priceless letter by Arthur Schurig who rightly criticised Frimmel's "Apothekerdeutsch" and confusedness (Frimmel was very sick in 1926). The statement "Seit Thayer ist eigentlich nichts geschehen" still holds some truth. Droßdik's biography was eventually written 73 years later by yours truly.
November 2, 2025 at 10:40 AM
A priceless letter by Arthur Schurig who rightly criticised Frimmel's "Apothekerdeutsch" and confusedness (Frimmel was very sick in 1926). The statement "Seit Thayer ist eigentlich nichts geschehen" still holds some truth. Droßdik's biography was eventually written 73 years later by yours truly.
A gathering of Graf Johann Ferdinand III. von Kuefstein, Paul Wranizky "Soc. Secret.", and Antonio Salieri "M d. C".
November 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
A gathering of Graf Johann Ferdinand III. von Kuefstein, Paul Wranizky "Soc. Secret.", and Antonio Salieri "M d. C".
Flurnamen in the table of contents of a land register of the Hütteldorf parish from 1687.
November 2, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Flurnamen in the table of contents of a land register of the Hütteldorf parish from 1687.
A baptismal certificate, issued in 1818, by the parish of St. Florian in Matzleinsdorf. I still remember seeing this magnificent church which was located in the middle of the Wiedner Hauptstraße. It was torn down in 1965.
November 2, 2025 at 10:33 AM
A baptismal certificate, issued in 1818, by the parish of St. Florian in Matzleinsdorf. I still remember seeing this magnificent church which was located in the middle of the Wiedner Hauptstraße. It was torn down in 1965.
There's a deep relation between the Andante grazioso of Beethoven's op. 31 No.1 and the finale of Haydn's op. 54 No. 2. youtu.be/Y3hIYlEEx3I?...
November 2, 2025 at 10:31 AM
There's a deep relation between the Andante grazioso of Beethoven's op. 31 No.1 and the finale of Haydn's op. 54 No. 2. youtu.be/Y3hIYlEEx3I?...
An entry in the notebook of Mathias Zehrnpfennig, warden of the Währinger Ortsfriedhof, concerning the reimbursement from the city treasury for the decoration of Beethoven's grave on November 1st and 2nd, 1882.
November 2, 2025 at 3:15 AM
An entry in the notebook of Mathias Zehrnpfennig, warden of the Währinger Ortsfriedhof, concerning the reimbursement from the city treasury for the decoration of Beethoven's grave on November 1st and 2nd, 1882.
The seals on the envelope of the will of Moritz Königswarter (1780-1829), merchant and founder of the wealthy Königswarter dynasty.
November 2, 2025 at 3:11 AM
The seals on the envelope of the will of Moritz Königswarter (1780-1829), merchant and founder of the wealthy Königswarter dynasty.
In October 1836, on the occasion of his son's 2nd birthday, his father Johann Vesque von Püttlingen commissioned a portrait of the child from Friedrich Amerling. The entry in his account book in November 1836 reads: "Alexanders Portrait 25 # [Dukaten] sammt Rahm 118 [Gulden]".
November 1, 2025 at 7:50 AM
In October 1836, on the occasion of his son's 2nd birthday, his father Johann Vesque von Püttlingen commissioned a portrait of the child from Friedrich Amerling. The entry in his account book in November 1836 reads: "Alexanders Portrait 25 # [Dukaten] sammt Rahm 118 [Gulden]".
My son Lukas who represents my genes in the next generation.
October 31, 2025 at 8:41 AM
My son Lukas who represents my genes in the next generation.
