Wolfgang Schneiderhan
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Wolfgang Eduard Schneiderhan (May 28, 1915 – May 18, 2002) was an Austrian classical violinist.
He was born in Vienna. After briefly studying with Otakar Ševčík in Pisek[1], he studied with Julius Winkler in Vienna. At age 10 he publicly performed Bach's Chaconne in D minor. The next year he made his debut in Copenhagen playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. He lived in England for some time from 1929, where he appeared in concerts with artists such as Maria Jeritza, Fyodor Chaliapin, Jan Kiepura, and Paul Robeson[1].
He returned to Vienna to become the first Concertmaster of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra from 1933-37, and from 1937 to 1951[1] led the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He nevertheless maintained his career as a soloist in concerts and recordings.
He was the soloist in the Viennese premiere of the Elgar Violin Concerto in 1947.
He formed a string quartet[1]. After Georg Kulenkampff's death in 1948, he replaced Kulenkampff in a famous piano trio with Edwin Fischer and Enrico Mainardi.
He held teaching posts in Salzburg, Vienna and Lucerne. In 1956 he founded the Lucerne Festival Strings together with Rudolf Baumgartner.
Schneiderhan was the husband of the soprano Irmgard Seefried. He died in his native Vienna.
