Faik Bey Franz Della Sudda (1859 - 1940)

Faik Bey Franz Della Sudda was born in Istanbul. He was the son of the famous Ottoman pharmacist Faik Pacha Georges (Giorgio) Della Sudda, and the grandson of the equally illustrious pharmacist Faik Pacha Francesco Della Sudda. The pianist’s brother was the painter Emilio Della Sudda, and the brothers were members of the highest intellectual circles in Europe.

We do not know about Faik Bey Franz Della Sudda’s childhood, nor his first piano teachers in Istanbul. His later teachers in Europe were none other than the eminent pianist-composer pedagogues Theodor Kullak and Theodor Leschetizsky. He became Liszt’s one and only Turkish student, affectionately nicknamed ‘Der Pasha’.

From 1882 through to the end of the first decade of the 20th century, Della Sudda gave several concerts in Europe. News and reviews of these concerts appeared in numerous publications in Europe, some in the United States and Australia.

When he moved back in Istanbul later in life, he lived in increasing isolation. He died in 1940, poor and alone, and was buried in a pauper’s grave in Istanbul.

Faik Bey Franz Della Sudda was known by various names: Francesco Della Sudda, F. Della Sudda, Faik Bey Francesco Della Sudda, Francesco della Sudda Bey, Faik Bey François Della Sudda and Franz Della Sudda.