Daughters’ pride as exhibition celebrates top composer’s life

THE daughters of one of Ireland’s most important composers watched with pride last night as their father’s life was celebrated.

As the exhibition on the life and times of her father, Professor Aloys Fleischmann, was opened in Cork, Ruth Fleischmann said her family was “absolutely delighted and overwhelmed that so many people have taken on this project”, she said.

“It is a great joy to us to know that so many people still cherish his memory and remember his legacy.”

University College Cork emeritus professor of Irish history, John A Murphy, launched the Fleischmann, Family and Friends exhibition and a book The Fleischmanns: A Remarkable Cork Family at the City Library on Grand Parade.

Both events are part of the Fleischmann Centenary Celebrations taking place all over Ireland throughout the year. Events are also taking place in Germany, England, America and China.

Curated and mounted by Cork City Libraries, the exhibition chronicles the lives of Fleischmann, his family in Cork and Germany, their friends, his work as an educator, composer and organiser of ventures such as the Cork Symphony Orchestra, the Choral Festival and the Cork Ballet Company.

Ms Fleischman, who was joined by her sisters, Anne, and Maeve and her son Max, said they are pleased at how the book details three generations of their family — from Hans Conrad Swertz, his second daughter, Tilly, who brought Aloys Fleischman Snr to Cork in 1906, and his son, Aloys, Ruth’s father.

“It shows how an immigrant family successfully integrated and contributed so greatly to Ireland,” she said.

She also revealed that 33 of his 55 manuscripts are being digitised and will be made available online, and that a CD of four of her father’s works is also being made. She also signalled her intention to ask An Post to strike a commemorative stamp in memory of her father in 2016 — the 25th anniversary of his death.

The exhibition will be open until April before it tours the country.