Peter Schidlof (July 9, 1922 - 1987) was an Austrian-British violist and co-founder of the world-renowned Amadeus Quartet. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This is a list of noted Viola players. Notable violists A Julia Rebekka Adler (b The Amadeus Quartet was a world famous String quartet founded in 1947
Born in Vienna, Schidlof fled Austria for England following the Nazi Anschluss in 1938. Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German The ( German: "link-up" also known as the, was the 1938 Annexation of Austria into Greater Germany by the Nazi On account of his musical prowess, he won a scholarship to Blundell's School in Devon, but when World War II broke out in September 1939, he suddenly became an enemy alien. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including In Law an enemy alien is a citizen of a country which is in a state of conflict with the land in which he or she is located It was while he was interned that he first met Norbert Brainin and Siegmund Nissel. Norbert Brainin, ( March 12, 1923 &ndash April 10 2005) was the first Violinist of the Amadeus Quartet, one of the world's Siegmund Nissel (3 January 1922 &ndash 21 May 2008 was an Austrian -born British Violinist who played second violin in the celebrated Amadeus Quartet and After years of internment, like Brainin and Nissel, Schidlof became a pupil of Max Rostal, and it was Rostal who became the mentor of the Amadeus and persuaded Schidlof, who had been a violinist, to become a viola player. Max Rostal (July 7 1905 &ndash August 6 1991) was a Violinist He was Austrian-born but later took British citizenship With Martin Lovett as cellist, the Amadeus gave their first concert at the Wigmore Hall in 1948. Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of Chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano song and instrumental Nobody could have known in 1948 the enormous success the Quartet would soon have, although it was already clear how exceptionally gifted they were. It is difficult to assess Schidlof’s separate contribution to the Amadeus, so much were the four a team, but his nickname "Eagle ears" shows just how insistent he always was on technical accuracy. Then undoubtedly, his calm, questing manner and his close knowledge of a wide range of music outside the chamber music repertory, combined with his cultivated and kind manner as a person, were an important part of the quartet's alchemy.
As for his playing itself, it was unfailingly warm, sensitive and rich in tone. That was also clear in his solo playing away from the Amadeus. Brainin and he often came together for Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante. Schidlof was also a welcome soloist on many occasions in Harold in Italy, where he characterised the solo part with a keen sense of Berliozian romanticism. He was always ready and willing to tackle contemporary work, and gave several premieres.
The group gave its first performance as the Amadeus Quartet in London on Jan. 10, 1948. Touring extensively, the Amadeus performed throughout Europe, Canada, the United States, Japan, and South America. Noted for its smooth, sophisticated style, its seamless ensemble playing, and its sensitive interpretation, the quartet made some 200 recordings, among them the complete quartets of Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, and W. A. Mozart. Though they emphasized a standard Classical and Romantic repertory, they also performed works by such 20th-century composers as Bela Bartók and Benjamin Britten (who wrote his third quartet expressly for them). The group disbanded upon the death of Schidlof in 1987.
He played for many years on the "MacDonald" Stradivarius of 1701 as well as owning fine examples by Testore and Bergonzi.
The Amadeus was one of the most celebrated quartets of the 20th century, and its members were awarded numerous honors, including:
- The Order of the British Empire, presented by the Queen. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V.
- Doctorates from the Universities of London, York, and Caracas.
- The highest of all German awards, the Grand Cross of merit.
- The Austrian Cross of Honour for Arts and Sciences.
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