Ernst Wallfisch (27 May 1920 in

Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its na ...

– 8 May 1979 in

Northampton, Massachusetts The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of Northampton (including its outer villages, Florence and Leeds) was 29,571. Northampton is known as an acade ...

) was a prominent

viola The viola ( , also , ) is a string instrument that is bow (music), bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of ...

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 known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

with Cecilia Nitzulescu-Lupu at the Bucharest Conservatory. 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 Romanian composer, violinist, conductor and teacher. Regarded as one of the greatest musicians in Romanian history, Enescu is featured on the Romanian five lei. Biogr ...

, 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 or Jehudi (Hebrew: יהודי, endonym for Jew) is a common Hebrew name: * Yehudi Menuhin (1916–1999), violinist and conductor ** Yehudi Menuhin School, a music school in Surrey, England ** Who's Yehoodi?, a catchphrase referring to the v ...

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 Paul Wallfisch (born September 18, 1962) is an American musician who specializes in German multimedia theater productions. He works extensively in Western Europe and makes his home in Harlem, New York, United States. Early childhood Paul Wallfisc ...

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 of downtown Dallas. History The orchestra traces its origins to a ...

Cleveland Orchestra The Cleveland Orchestra, based in Cleveland, is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the " Big Five". Founded in 1918 by the pianist and impresario Adella Prentiss Hughes, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Se ...

, and principal violist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1953 to 1955. As the Wallfisch Duo, he performed throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, North Africa and Israel. Pablo Casals provided another influence and long-lasting inspiration, which culminated in chamber music collaborations at several

Pablo Casals Festival The Pablo Casals Festival is a music festival in the French Pyrenees created by the cellist and conductor Pablo Casals in 1950. History Casals opposed the Francoist regime in Spain which lasted until after his death. As an exile, Prades in th ...

s in Prades between 1955 and 1961. As viola pedagogue, he taught at the

Mozarteum University of Salzburg Mozarteum University Salzburg (German: ''Universität Mozarteum Salzburg'') is one of three affiliated but separate (it is actually a state university) entities under the “Mozarteum” moniker in Salzburg municipality; the International Mo ...

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. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith (Smith College ...

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

viola da gamba The viol (), viola da gamba (), or informally gamba, is any one of a family of bowed, fretted, and stringed instruments with hollow wooden bodies and pegboxes where the tension on the strings can be increased or decreased to adjust the pitch ...

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. It is located in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University. Scottish-American violist Wil ...

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

.
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), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions include sy ...

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

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped wit ...

: Sonata in F minor for viola and piano, Op.120 No.1 :: Robert Schumann: '' 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. As well as producing music ...

: 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 classical music composer. He was born in Nechanice, Bohemia, and died in Vienna. His music was well respected by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert. He was an instrumental p ...

: Concerto in C major for viola and orchestra; Jörg Faerber; 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 f ...

: ''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. It was founded in 1950 and, along with Philharmonie Südwestfalen and Landesjugendorchester NRW, is one of the 'official' orchestr ...

; recorded 1976 ::

Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (18 or 19 November 17865 June 1826) was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and critic who was one of the first significant composers of the Romantic era. Best known for his opera ...

: ''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, G ...

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

Sergiu Comissiona Sergiu Comissiona (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 the age of five, was hired as a violin ...

;

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 of ...

; recorded 1959 * ''

Hindemith Paul Hindemith (; 16 November 189528 December 1963) was a German 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 advocate of the ' ...

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

: 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 succes ...

: 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 Conservatoir ...

: 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 violinist, conductor, composer and teacher who made an international career, based in Hanover and Berlin. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

: ''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 ( cs, Karel Stamic; 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 Jo ...

: 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. Almost completely self-taught in music, he became a composer against his family's wishes. After studying in Magdeburg, Zellerfeld, and Hilde ...

Suite and Concertos'' – Ernst Wallfisch (viola and

);

Ulrich Koch Ulrich Koch (14 March 1921 – 7 June 1996) was a German Viola, violist. Life Born in Braunschweig, Koch received violin lessons from Ion Voicu in Berlin. In 1945 he worked with the orchestra of the Staatstheater Braunschweig, from 1949 in the S ...

(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 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

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

(violin), Ernst Wallfisch (viola), Pablo Casals (cello),

Mieczysław Horszowski Mieczysław Horszowski (June 23, 1892May 22, 1993) was a Polish-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), Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine). H ...

(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 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 recip ...

, 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, as a musical director at the Paulinerkirche, Leipzig, Leipzig University ...

- 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