Ernst Wallfisch (27 May 1920 in

Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

– 8 May 1979 in

Northampton, Massachusetts The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of Northampton (including its outer villages, Florence, Massachusetts, Florence and ...

) was a prominent

viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...

soloist, recording artist and pedagogue, primarily remembered along with his wife, pianist Lory Wallfisch, as partners of the Wallfisch Duo. Born into a musical family, Ernst Wallfisch immigrated to Bucharest, Romania in 1926. He studied

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

with Cecilia Nitzulescu-Lupu at the

Bucharest Conservatory The National University of Music Bucharest (, UNMB) is a university-level school of music located in Bucharest, Romania. Established as a school of music in 1863 and reorganized as an academy in 1931, it has functioned as a public university since ...

. Having a strong attraction to the sound of the viola, he turned his attentions to the instrument at the age of 14 and made his highly praised début on viola at 18. At the Conservatory, he met violinist-composer

George Enescu George Enescu (; – 4 May 1955), known in France as Georges Enesco, was a Romanians, Romanian composer, violinist, pianist, conductor, teacher and statesman. He is regarded as one of the greatest musicians in Romanian history. Biography En ...

, who was one of his greatest sources of inspiration, and his wife Lory, a pianist with whom he started to perform during the War. They married in November 1944.

Yehudi Menuhin Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin (22 April 191612 March 1999), was an American-born British violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in Britain. He is widely considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. ...

heard the duo perform in Bucharest in May 1946 on the occasion of his first trip to Romania. Menuhin was deeply moved by their playing and helped the couple immigrate to the United States. They became American citizens in 1953, and had their only child, musician Paul Wallfisch in 1962. ] Ernst Wallfisch was a member of the Pro Musica Quartet and the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra prior to his immigration, later a member of the

Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Dallas, Texas. Its principal performing venue is the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District, Dallas, Arts District of downtown Dallas. History The orchestra tr ...

Cleveland Orchestra The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1918 by the pianist and impresario Adella Prentiss Hughes, the orchestra is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the " Big Five". T ...

, and principal violist with the

Detroit Symphony Orchestra The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Detroit, Michigan. Its primary performance venue is Orchestra Hall (Detroit, Michigan), Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown, Detroit, ...

from 1953 to 1955. As the Wallfisch Duo, he performed throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, North Africa and Israel.

Pablo Casals Pau Casals i Defilló (Catalan: ; 29 December 187622 October 1973), known in English as Pablo Casals,Pablo Casals Festivals in Prades between 1955 and 1961. As viola pedagogue, he taught at the

Mozarteum University of Salzburg Mozarteum University Salzburg (German language, German: ''Universität Mozarteum Salzburg'') is one of three affiliated but separate (it is actually a state university) entities under the "Mozarteum" name in Salzburg, Salzburg municipality; th ...

and at the Lucerne Conservatory. Both Ernst and Lory Wallfisch joined the music faculty of

Smith College Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts, United States. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smit ...

at Northampton, Massachusetts in 1964. Ernst Wallfisch died suddenly of a heart attack in 1979. Wallfisch was also a master

viola da gamba The viola da gamba (), or viol, or informally gamba, is a bowed and fretted string instrument that is played (i.e. "on the leg"). It is distinct from the later violin family, violin, or ; and it is any one of the earlier viol family of bow (m ...

player, even making recordings. Lory Wallfisch donated her husband's collection of viola music, approximately 300 items, to the

Primrose International Viola Archive The Primrose International Viola Archive (PIVA) is the official viola archive of both the International Viola Society and American Viola Society and the largest collection of viola music in the world. It is located in the Harold B. Lee Library a ...

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...

.
Primrose International Viola Archive
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Discography

;Viola works * ''Ernst und Lory Wallfisch at Pablo-Casals-Festival Prades'' – Ernst Wallfisch (viola); Lory Wallfisch (piano); Bayer Records; BR 200050 (1996) ::

Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic music, Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions inc ...

: Sonata in C minor for viola and piano (1823–1824) ::

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; ; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period (music), Romantic period. His music is noted for its rhythmic vitality and freer treatment of dissonance, oft ...

: Sonata in F minor for viola and piano, Op.120 No.1 ::

Robert Schumann Robert Schumann (; ; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and music critic of the early Romantic music, Romantic era. He composed in all the main musical genres of the time, writing for solo piano, voice and piano, chamber ...

: '' Märchenbilder'' for viola and piano, Op.113 (1851) * ''

Ernest Bloch Ernest Bloch (; ; July 24, 1880 – July 15, 1959) was a Swiss-born American composer. Bloch was a preeminent artist in his day, and left a lasting legacy. He is recognized as one of the greatest Swiss composers in history. Several of his most no ...

: Werke für Bratsche und Klavier'' (Works for Viola and Piano) – Ernst Wallfisch (viola); Lory Wallfisch (piano); EBS (1995) :: ''Suite'' for viola and piano (1919) :: ''Meditation et Processional'' for viola and piano (1951) :: ''Suite Hébraïque'' for viola and piano (1951) :: ''Suite'' for viola solo (1958) * ''Ernst Wallfisch In Memoriam'' – Bayer-Records; BR 200 028 (1993) ::

Johann Baptist Wanhal Johann Baptist Wanhal (12 May 1739 – 20 August 1813) was a Czech composer of the Classical period. He was born in Nechanice, Bohemia, and died in Vienna. His music was well respected by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beetho ...

: Concerto in C major for viola and orchestra;

Jörg Faerber Jörg Faerber (18 June 1929 – 13 September 2022) was a German conductor. He founded the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn (WKO) in 1960 and was its artistic and managing director for over 40 years. He was known internationally, touring ...

; Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn; recorded 1972 ::

Niccolò Paganini Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini (; ; 27 October 178227 May 1840) was an Italian violinist and composer. He was the most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. His 24 Caprices ...

: ''Sonata per la Gran' Viola'' in C minor for viola and orchestra (1834); Franz Allers;

Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie The Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie (North West German Philharmonic) is a German symphony orchestra based in Herford. Founded in 1950, the orchestra is one of the ''Landesorchester'' of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, along with the ''Philhar ...

; recorded 1976 ::

Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (5 June 1826) was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and Music criticism, critic in the early Romantic music, Romantic period. Best known for List of operas by Carl Maria von Weber, h ...

: ''Variations on "A Schüsserl und a Rein'dl'"'' in C major for viola and orchestra (1806); Wilhelm Brückner-Rüggeberg; NDR-Sinfonieorchester Hamburg; recorded 1976 :: Carl Maria von Weber: ''Andante e rondo ongarese'' in C minor for viola and orchestra, Op.35 (1809); Wilhelm Brückner-Rüggeberg; NDR-Sinfonieorchester Hamburg; recorded 1964 ::

Gian Francesco Malipiero Gian Francesco Malipiero (; 18 March 1882 – 1 August 1973) was an Italian composer, musicologist, music teacher and editor. Life Early years Born in Venice into an aristocratic family, the grandson of the opera composer Francesco Malipiero, Gi ...

: ''Dialogo No.5 "Quasi Concerto"'' for viola and orchestra (1956);

Sergiu Comissiona Sergiu Comissiona (Hebrew: סרג'ו קומיסיונה; June 16, 1928 – March 5, 2005) was a Romanian- Israeli- American conductor and violinist. Biography Early life Born in Bucharest, Romania in a Jewish family, he began violin studies at ...

;

Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (Hebrew: התזמורת הסימפונית ירושלים, ''ha-Tizmoret ha-Simfonit Yerushalayim'') is a major orchestra of Israel. Since the 1980s, the JSO has been based in the Henry Crown Symphony Hall, part o ...

; recorded 1959 * ''

Hindemith Paul Hindemith ( ; ; 16 November 189528 December 1963) was a German and American composer, music theorist, teacher, violist and conductor. He founded the Amar Quartet in 1921, touring extensively in Europe. As a composer, he became a major ad ...

Chamber Music Vol. 6'' – Ernst Wallfisch (viola); Lory Wallfisch (piano); Musical Heritage Society OR H-294 (1971) :: Sonata for viola solo, Op.11 No.5 :: Sonata for viola and piano (1939) * ''Hummel and Haydn'' – Ernst Wallfisch (viola); Lory Wallfisch (harpsichord); Jörg Faerber; Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn; Turnabout Vox 34079S ::

Johann Nepomuk Hummel Johann Nepomuk Hummel (14 November 177817 October 1837) was an Austrian composer and pianist. His music reflects the transition from the Classical to the Romantic musical era. He was a pupil of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Salieri, and ...

: ''Fantasie'' in G minor for viola, 2 clarinets and string orchestra, Op.94 ::

Michael Haydn Johann Michael Haydn (; 14 September 1737 – 10 August 1806) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period, the younger brother of Joseph Haydn. Life Michael Haydn was born in 1737 in the Austrian village of Rohra ...

: Concerto in C major for viola, harpsichord and string orchestra * ''Lory et Ernst Wallfisch'' – Ernst Wallfisch (viola and violin); Lory Wallfisch (piano and harpsichord); INA Mémoire Vive; IMV029 (1998) ::

Charles Koechlin Charles-Louis-Eugène Koechlin (; 27 November 186731 December 1950), commonly known as Charles Koechlin, was a French composer, teacher and musicologist. Among his better known works is '' Les Heures persanes'', a set of piano pieces based on th ...

: Sonata for viola and piano, Op.53 (1911–1913); recorded 1957 ::

Darius Milhaud Darius Milhaud (, ; 4 September 1892 – 22 June 1974) was a French composer, conductor, and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as ''The Group of Six''—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His composition ...

: Sonata No. 2 for viola and piano, Op.244 (1944); recorded 1979 ::

Marcel Mihalovici Marcel Mihalovici (Bucharest, 22 October 1898 – Paris, 12 August 1985) was a French composer born in Romania. He was discovered by George Enescu in Bucharest. He moved to Paris in 1919 (at age 21) to study under Vincent d'Indy. His works include ...

: ''Textes'' for viola and piano, Op.104 (1975); recorded 1979 ::

Jean-Joseph de Mondonville Jean-Joseph de Mondonville (, 25 December 1711 (baptised) – 8 October 1772), also known as Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville, was a French violinist and composer. He was a younger contemporary of Jean-Philippe Rameau and enjoyed great succe ...

: Sonata Concerto No.6 in A major for violin and harpsichord; recorded 1979 * ''Lory Wallfisch Remembers: A Festival of Romanian Music'' – Ernst Wallfisch (viola); Lory Wallfisch (piano); EBS 6146 ::

: ''Piesă de concert'' (Concertpiece) for viola and piano (1906) ::

Mihail Jora Mihail Jora (; 2 August 1891, Roman, Romania - 10 May 1971, Bucharest, Romania) was a Romanian composer, pianist, and conductor. Jora studied in Leipzig with Robert Teichmüller. From 1929 to 1962 he was a professor at the Bucharest Conservato ...

: Sonata for viola and piano, Op.32 (1956) * ''Music for Viola and Piano'' – Ernst Wallfisch (viola); Lory Wallfisch (piano); Musical Heritage Society; MHS 1562 ::

: Sonata in C minor for viola and piano (1823–1824) ::

Joseph Joachim Joseph Joachim (28 June 1831 – 15 August 1907) was a Hungarian Violin, violinist, Conducting, conductor, composer and teacher who made an international career, based in Hanover and Berlin. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely ...

: ''Variationen über ein eigenes Thema'' for viola and piano, Op.10 (1854) * ''Stamitz Concerti'' – Suzanne Lautenbacher (violin); Ernst Wallfisch (viola); Jörg Faerber; Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn; Turnabout Vox TV34221 ::

Carl Stamitz Carl Philipp Stamitz (; baptized 8 May 17459 November 1801) was a German composer of partial Czech ancestry. He was the most prominent representative of the second generation of the Mannheim School. He was the eldest son of Johann Stamitz, a vio ...

: Concerto in D major for viola and orchestra, Op.1, No. 1 ::

: ''Sinfonia Concertante'' in D major for violin, viola and orchestra (1780–1782) * ''

Telemann Georg Philipp Telemann (; – 25 June 1767) was a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist. He is one of the most prolific composers in history, at least in terms of surviving works. Telemann was considered by his contemporaries to be ...

Suite and Concertos'' – Ernst Wallfisch (viola and

); Ulrich Koch (viola); Jörg Faerber; Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn; Turnabout Vox TV 34288 :: Concerto in G major for viola and string orchestra, TWV 51:G9 :: Concerto in G major for 2 violas and string orchestra, TWV 52:G3 :: Suite in D major for viola da gamba and string orchestra ;Chamber works * ''Casals Festival at Prades: Live Concert Performances'' – Music & Arts Program (2003) ::

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

: Piano Quartet No.2 in E major, K.493;

(violin), Ernst Wallfisch (viola),

Pablo Casals Pau Casals i Defilló (Catalan: ; 29 December 187622 October 1973), known in English as Pablo Casals,Mieczysław Horszowski Mieczysław Horszowski (June 23, 1892May 22, 1993) was a Polish and American pianist who had one of the longest careers in the history of the performing arts. Life Early life Horszowski was born in Lwów (Lemberg), Kingdom of Galicia and Lodome ...

(piano) * ''

String Sextets'' –

, Robert Masters (violins),

Cecil Aronowitz Cecil Aronowitz (4 March 19167 September 1978) was a British viola player, a founding member of the Melos Ensemble, a leading chamber musician, and an influential teacher at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. ...

, Ernst Wallfisch (violas),

Maurice Gendron Maurice Gendron (26 December 1920, near Nice20 August 1990, Grez-sur-Loing) was a French cello, cellist, conductor and teacher. He is widely considered one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century. He was an Officer of the Legion of Honor and a ...

, Derek Simpson (celli); EMI Classics :: String Sextet No.1 in B major, Op.18 :: String Sextet No.2 in G major, Op.36 * ''

Max Reger Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger (19 March 187311 May 1916) was a German composer, pianist, organist, conductor, and academic teacher. He worked as a concert pianist, a musical director at the Paulinerkirche, Leipzig, Leipzig University Chu ...

- Kammermusik Vol.4'' – Ernst Wallfisch (viola), Lory Wallfisch (piano), Philipp Naegele (violin) - Da Camera Magna 77 504 CD :: Suite for viola solo No.1 in G minor, Op.131d/1 (1916) :: Suite for viola solo No.2 in D major, Op.131d/2 (1916) :: Suite for viola solo No.3 in E minor, Op.131d/3 (1916) :: Piano Trio No.1 in B minor, Op.2 (1891) w.viola

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallfisch, Ernst 1920 births 1979 deaths American classical violists Romanian classical violists Smith College faculty 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century American musicians German emigrants to Romania Romanian emigrants to the United States 20th-century violists Players of the Cleveland Orchestra Players of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Players of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra