Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

December 29, 1876 in West Hartlepool, England

Death

:

February 22, 1975 in London, England

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

Lionel Tertis was a renowned classical music artist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest viola players of all time. Born on December 29, 1876, in West Hartlepool, England, Tertis showed an early interest in music and began playing the violin at the age of six. However, it was not until he was 13 years old that he discovered the viola, which would become his lifelong passion. Tertis received his early musical education at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied under the tutelage of Lionel Troup, a prominent viola player of the time. He quickly established himself as a talented musician and began performing professionally at the age of 16. In 1898, he joined the Queen's Hall Orchestra, where he played under the direction of Sir Henry Wood. Over the course of his career, Tertis became known for his virtuosic playing style and his ability to bring out the full range of expression and emotion in the viola. He was also a prolific composer and arranger, and many of his works have become staples of the viola repertoire. One of the highlights of Tertis's career was his performance of the Walton Viola Concerto in 1929. The concerto had been written specifically for Tertis, and he gave the premiere performance at the Proms in London to great critical acclaim. The piece has since become one of the most popular works in the viola repertoire. Tertis was also a champion of the viola as a solo instrument, and he worked tirelessly to promote its use in orchestral and chamber music. He founded the International Viola Society in 1970, which continues to promote the viola and its music to this day. Throughout his career, Tertis received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1950, he was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to music. He was also awarded honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Durham and the University of Leeds. Tertis continued to perform and teach well into his later years, and he remained an influential figure in the world of classical music until his death in 1975. His legacy lives on through his many recordings, compositions, and arrangements, as well as through the countless viola players who have been inspired by his work.

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