David Gulda: Loew - Life Paths of a Jewish Family

"My child, I ask you to take good care of these things, for you and your sons, my dear grandchildren. If one day they want to know where they come from, may these objects show them the way to the past of the Loew family, which I no longer have the strength to record." "Loew" is a fascinating tapestry of world history and personal family biography. David Gulda guides readers through two centuries and half of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, from Italy to South America and back. With the help of carefully researched facts and fictional elements, he unfolds the story of a Jewish family in the tension between religious tradition, increasing secularization, and political upheavals from the beginning of the 19th century to the late 20th century. Accompanied at the piano by his brother, the musician Paul Gulda, who also contributed the afterword to the book, David Gulda now presents his work. David Gulda, born in 1956 in Vienna, the elder son of actress Paola Loew and pianist Friedrich Gulda, holds a doctorate in law and a degree in philosophy, and has worked for many years in business both at home and abroad. Paul Gulda, born in 1961 in Vienna, the younger son of actress Paola Loew and pianist Friedrich Gulda. Since 1980, he has worked as a pianist, musician, educator, and mentor both at home and abroad. "David Gulda has now presented the very personal biography of his mother's ancestors after extensive research. It is a 'glimpse into the family rearview mirror'." (Günther Haller, Die Presse) "Many in the audience had their hearts opened during Paul's 'Interventions', especially when he brilliantly and excitingly staged himself and spiced his presentations with various delicacies at the piano—alongside Schubert, also Yiddish songs sung by himself." (Walther Neumann, Kleine Zeitung) "Thus, the book stands against forgetting. Against what the Loew family could fall prey to, and also against the circumstances in which its members lived. If elements of this past threaten to return in new guise, then remembering may be one of the means against it. Hopefully." (David Gulda, Foreword "Loew") "David Gulda, the elder son of pianist Friedrich Gulda and actress Paola Loew, mixes world history and personal family biography in 'Loew', leading with his exciting retelling of the story of a Jewish family through two centuries and half of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, from Italy to South America and back." (Karin Gasch, Böhlau) David Gulda, Loew - Life Paths of a Jewish Family, Böhlau, 2025.