Reviving the Lost Works of Dublin’s Composer Mary Dickenson-Auner at Vienna's Musikverein

A Remarkable Return: Mary Dickenson-Auner’s Music at the Musikverein

In the heart of Vienna, a remarkable event is set to unfold as the compositions of Mary Dickenson-Auner, a talented Dublin-born composer silenced by the Nazis, are brought back to life after nearly eighty years. This poignant revival will occur at the Musikverein, commencing on November 25, 2026, with a cycle of four concerts themed "Jenseits vom tanzenden Wien" (Beyond Dancing Vienna).

Mary Dickenson-Auner, who lived from 1880 to 1965, had her life irrevocably altered in 1938 when she faced a ban on her ability to perform and teach due to her British citizenship. This ban effectively silenced a brilliant artist whose career once flourished in Vienna, leading to the tragic obscurity of most of her string quartets which remained only in handwritten manuscripts until now. For the very first time, these manuscripts will be showcased on stage, allowing audiences to experience the depths of her artistic expression.

The Auner Quartett, comprising accomplished musicians Daniel Auner, Cristian Ruscior, Georg Wimmer, and Konstantin Zelenin, will perform Dickenson-Auner's Fourth String Quartet, along with works by illustrious composers such as Franz Schubert and Johannes Brahms, during the inaugural concert. Daniel Auner, the group’s first violinist and a relative of the composer, will play on her own violin, creating a deeply personal connection to the work being presented.

Mary Dickenson-Auner's early musical education was no less impressive. A product of the Royal Academy of Music in London, she honed her skills under the guidance of Émile Sauret. Her debut with the Czech Philharmonic in 1905 came at a time when women were often marginalized in the arts. Notably, her early works were published under a male pseudonym, Frank Donnell, reflecting the gender biases of her time.

Despite the adversities she faced, including being stripped of her public roles, Auner's creativity flourished in isolation. In her later years, she began composing fervently, stating that the suppressed notes of her past