* April 25, 1845 (Nový Jičín)

† October 6, 1906 (Berlin)

Ferdinand Richard Georg (C. F. van Hell) was an actor, musician, and director at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Although the name may be confusing, he came from an important family of entrepreneurs and dyers, which in the first half of the 19th century was one of the most influential and prominent families in the town of Nový Jičín. Its very first member here was Johann Nepomuk Pfundheller (1731–1804), a native of Žatec in Bohemia, who married Johanna Schwartzlingerová (1713–1798) in Nový Jičín in 1762, the widow of the wealthy dyer Ignaz Schindler (1699–1761). It should be noted that his brother-in-law was Anton Dominik Schindler, probably the most important priest in Suchdol nad Odrou in the Kunín estate, who made an extraordinary contribution to the Baroque decoration of the local church. His nephew was Dr. Augustin Schindler, a lawyer and close friend of Countess Marie Walburga of Kunín. Ernestina Theresia Leokardia Pfundhellerová (1816–1905) became the wife of Friedrich Emil Schindler (1809–1867), the adopted grandson and heir of Countess Walburga. Ernestina's brother Karl Leopold Pfundheller (1814–1890) served as commander of the National Guard in Nový Jičín during the revolutionary year of 1848, after which the importance and wealth of the Pfundheller family slowly began to fade. However, his son Ferdinand Richard Georg Pfundheller (1845–1906), known worldwide under the stage name C. F. van Hell, shone like a true star, becoming famous as a musician, actor, director of well-known European theaters, and also director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. After arriving in New York, USA, he worked as director of the Metropolitan Opera during the so-called "German Season." Under his direction, new opera premieres were prepared from 1885 onwards, mainly from the works of the great Richard Wagner. New York thus saw Lohengrin, Valkyrie, Tannhäuser, and other gems of opera. The native of Nový Jičín adapted the operas Aida, Don Giovanni, and Faust into new forms. On Sunday, May 8, 1887, a theatrical performance took place at the German Community House in the presence of C. F. van Hell, artistic director and chief director of the German Grand Opera in New York. It was called Die Goldprobe and was a five-part comedy in which the famous native appeared in the guest role of Spiegel. After his return, he settled in Berlin, where he headed several theaters and published the professional journal Regisseur from 1894 to 1905. Fachblatt für Theater, Musik und Kunst. He died on October 6, 1906, in Berlin. His death was also reported in the newspapers in his native Nový Jičín, but his name has been unjustly forgotten.