Norbert Brainin
Encyclopedia
Norbert Brainin, was the first violin
ist of the Amadeus Quartet
, one of the world's most highly regarded string quartet
s.
Because of Brainin's Jewish origin, he was driven out of Vienna
after Hitler's Anschluss
of 1938, as were the violinist Siegmund Nissel
and violist Peter Schidlof
. Brainin and Schidlof met in a British
internment camp, many Jewish refugee
s having had the misfortune of being confined by the British as "enemy alien
s" upon seeking refuge in the UK.
Brainin was released after a few months, but Schidlof remained in the camp, where he met Nissel. Finally Schidlof and Nissel were released, and the three of them were able to study with violin pedagogue Max Rostal
, who taught them free of charge. It was through Rostal that they met cellist Martin Lovett
, and in 1947 they formed the Brainin Quartet, which was renamed the Amadeus Quartet
in 1948.
The Amadeus was one of the most celebrated quartets of the 20th Century, and its members were awarded numerous honours, including:
The quartet disbanded in 1987 upon the death of Schidlof, who was regarded as irreplaceable by the surviving members. Norbert Brainin continued to perform as a soloist, often performing with pianist Günter Ludwig.
His instruments included the "Rode" Guarnerius del Gesu of 1734, the "Chaconne" Stradivarius of 1725 and the "Gibson" Stradivarius of 1713.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist of the Amadeus Quartet
Amadeus Quartet
The Amadeus Quartet was a world famous string quartet founded in 1947.Because of their Jewish origin, violinists Norbert Brainin, Siegmund Nissel and Peter Schidlof were driven out of Vienna after Hitler's Anschluss of 1938...
, one of the world's most highly regarded string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
s.
Because of Brainin's Jewish origin, he was driven out of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
after Hitler's Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
of 1938, as were the violinist Siegmund Nissel
Siegmund Nissel
Siegmund "Sigi" Nissel was an German-born British violinist who played second violin in the Amadeus Quartet and served as its administrator....
and violist Peter Schidlof
Peter Schidlof
Peter Schidlof was an Austrian-British violist and co-founder of the Amadeus Quartet.-Life and career:Born in Vienna, Schidlof fled Austria for England following the Nazi Anschluss in 1938. He won a scholarship to Blundell's School in Devon...
. Brainin and Schidlof met in a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
internment camp, many Jewish refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s having had the misfortune of being confined by the British as "enemy alien
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
s" upon seeking refuge in the UK.
Brainin was released after a few months, but Schidlof remained in the camp, where he met Nissel. Finally Schidlof and Nissel were released, and the three of them were able to study with violin pedagogue Max Rostal
Max Rostal
Max Rostal was a violinist and a viola player. He was Austrian-born, but later took British citizenship.-Biography:Max Rostal was born in Cieszyn and studied with Carl Flesch. He won the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 1925...
, who taught them free of charge. It was through Rostal that they met cellist Martin Lovett
Martin Lovett
Martin Lovett is an English cellist, known as the cellist with the Amadeus Quartet.When he was 11, his father, a cellist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, gave him his first lessons. At 15, he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London. He joined the Amadeus Quartet at the age...
, and in 1947 they formed the Brainin Quartet, which was renamed the Amadeus Quartet
Amadeus Quartet
The Amadeus Quartet was a world famous string quartet founded in 1947.Because of their Jewish origin, violinists Norbert Brainin, Siegmund Nissel and Peter Schidlof were driven out of Vienna after Hitler's Anschluss of 1938...
in 1948.
The Amadeus was one of the most celebrated quartets of the 20th Century, and its members were awarded numerous honours, including:
- Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, presented by the Queen, 1960. - Doctorates from the Universities of LondonUniversity of London-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, YorkUniversity of YorkThe University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
, and Caracas. - The highest of all GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
awards, the Grand Cross of Merit. - The AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Cross of Honour for Arts and Sciences.
The quartet disbanded in 1987 upon the death of Schidlof, who was regarded as irreplaceable by the surviving members. Norbert Brainin continued to perform as a soloist, often performing with pianist Günter Ludwig.
His instruments included the "Rode" Guarnerius del Gesu of 1734, the "Chaconne" Stradivarius of 1725 and the "Gibson" Stradivarius of 1713.