Príhoda, Vása (1900-1960)

Príhoda, Vása

VIOLINIST (CZECHIA)

BORN 22 Aug 1900, Vodnany - DIED 26 Jul 1960, Wien
CAUSE OF DEATH heart failure
GRAVE LOCATION Vodnany: Cemetery

Violon virtuoso Vása Príhoda was the son of the leader of a music school in Prague. After being taught by his father he studied in Prague under Professor Marak. In 1913 he performed at the Mozarteum in Prague. During the First world War he arrived in Milan, where at first he wasn't successful. His luck changed when in Toscanini heard him play in Milan on December 27th, 1919 and was favourably impressed, thus launching Príhoda's career. He gave many concerts and travelled to South America in 1920, accompanied by pianist Asta Doubravska. He moved on to the USA where he was very successful.

During the twenties he met Arnold Rosé in Vienna and he married his daughter Alma in 1930. They were divorced in 1935 and he was married to another Jewish woman between 1937 and 1943. When Alma was imprisoned in Birkenau in 1943 (and died there in 1944) he did nothing to help her, but it's possible that he didn't know that she had left England for the Netherlands and was trapped when that country was invaded in 1940.

Because he kept performing during the war he was fined after the war and not permitted to work in the Czech Republic, but in 1946 he was rehabilitated. By this time he had married for the third time.

In April 1946 he performed in Slovakia, but he met a crowd who had known Alma well and angry demonstrations were his part. Things went better in Bratislava, but the shadow of Alma was over him wherever he went. He moved to Italy and subsequently toured the Middle East on a passport provided by the Turkish government. In 1950 he took a professorship in Vienna. After he broke his arm in 1954 in Salzburg he wasn't able to reach his old level when he played the violin.

He was buried at the Hietzing cemetery in Vienna. In 2016 his remains were exhumed and on 26 June 2016 he was reburied in his hometown Vodnany.

Family
• Wife: Rosé, Alma (1930-1935)

Related persons
• cooperated with Kurz, Selma
• has a connection with Toscanini, Arturo

Images
The former grave of Vasa Príhóda at the Hietzing Cemetery in Vienna. His remains were transferred to Vodnany in 2016. Picture by androom (15 Aug 2006)	The former grave of Vasa Príhóda at the Hietzing Cemetery in Vienna. His remains were transferred to Vodnany in 2016. Picture by Androom (26 Aug 2014)