Sahla, Richard

1855-

Celebrated violinist; born at Gratz. Was a favorite pupil of David, and studied at the Leipsic Conservatory from 1868 to 1872 under Caspar, Remy and Kuno Hess. In his eighth year Sahla played in public, and in three years passed through all the violin classes of the Styrian Musical Society, receiving four prizes. His debut was made at a Gewandhaus concert in 1873, and he set out immediately afterward on his first tour. From 1875 to 1876 he was solo violinist in Schaumburg-Lippe Court band; from 1876 to 1877 leader of the musical society of Gothenburg, and from 1878 to 1880 first violinist in the Vienna Grand Opera. In that city he played with success at numerous concerts, and in 1880 to 1881 traveled through Germany and Hungary. From 1882 to 1888 was leader of the orchestra at the Hanover Opera, in which city he formed a string quartet and was leader and conductor as well as the founder of the Richard Wagner Society. Since 1888 he has acted as Court chapelmaster at Bückeburg, where he has organized an oratorio society. Sahla is a composer of taste, and has written a Roumanian rhapsody; concert-pieces for violin; songs; and other works.