Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Austrian violinist
May 05, 1980 - 65th Birthday of Wolfgang Schneiderhan: One of the very great violin virtuosos of our time will be on May 28, 1980 sixty-five years old. The artist, born in Vienna, Austria gave at the age of five years his first concerts and was later taught by O. Sevic and J. Winkler. Before the age of 20 he became music master of the Vienna Symphonics - from 1939-1951 he had the same job at the Vienna Philharmonics. In 1938 he founded the Schneiderhan string quartet which continued until 1951 and had international success. No less successful was the trio in which he played together with Edwin Fischer and the cello-player Enrico Mainardi. As soloist Wolfgang Schneiderhan had success as a Beethoven-interpreter. Highly appreciated as teacher (he was professor at the high school for music in Vienna, Austria) he continued the tradition of the violin school of Vienna. Together with Rudolf Baumgartner he founded in 1956 the string-orchestra Festival Strings of Lucerne. In 1965 Wolfgang Schneiderhan was awarded the Great Federal Distinguished Service Cross of West Germany
