Willi Boskovsky
Willi Boskovsky (born June 16, 1909 in Vienna ; † April 21, 1991 in Visp ) was an Austrian violinist and conductor .
Life
Boskovsky received his first violin lessons from his mother at the age of five. Trained at the Academy for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, he won the Kreisler Prize at the age of seventeen. In 1926 he finished his studies. In 1932 he became a member of the Vienna Philharmonic . From 1939 to 1971 he was concert master of this orchestra. In 1935 Boskovsky became professor for violin at the Vienna Music Academy and concertmaster in the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera . Gradually he gave up his solo career and devoted himself to chamber music.
Willi Boskovsky enjoyed great international popularity, which he achieved primarily as the successor to Clemens Krauss as conductor of the New Year's Eve and New Year's concerts of the Vienna Philharmonic from 1955 to 1979. Boskovsky conducted these concerts like Johann Strauss with violin in hand ( standing violinist ). Since 1959, the New Year's concerts have been broadcast to all parts of the world via Eurovision . Boskovsky helped the orchestra to gain worldwide popularity.
He also directed several chamber ensembles: he was the first violinist of the “Boskovsky Quartet” founded in 1948, which, reinforced by double bass and wind instruments, called itself the “Vienna Octet” and consisted of section leaders of the Vienna Philharmonic. It recorded Schubert's octet several times on record. All of Mozart's sonatas for violin and piano and the piano trios were also recorded. In 1969 he became chief conductor of the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra , with whom he toured numerous times and in the 1970s recorded almost all of the Strauss' works for Austrian radio.
Boskovsky appeared as a soloist under the conductors Bruno Walter , Wilhelm Furtwängler and Hans Knappertsbusch . He went on concert tours all over Europe.
Boskovsky was married to the castle actress Elisabeth Höbarth , his nephew was the communications engineer and space scientist Willibald Riedler .
Boskovsky is buried in a grave of honor in the Vienna Central Cemetery (Gate 2, Group 33 G, Number 78).
Web links
- Media from and about Willi Boskovsky in the catalog of the German National Library
- Entry on Willi Boskovsky in the Austria Forum (in the AEIOU Austria Lexicon )
- Honorary grave in the Vienna Central Cemetery
Individual evidence
- ↑ diepresse.com: "The fact that everything was successful also cost a lot of nerves" . Article dated September 30, 2016, accessed June 4, 2018.
- ↑ Interview with the natural scientist Willibald Riedler - 1st part . Interview from July 26, 2002, accessed June 4, 2018.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Boskovsky, Willi |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Austrian violinist and conductor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 16, 1909 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Vienna |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 21, 1991 |
| Place of death | Visp , Switzerland |