Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Eugene Lehner was a Hungarian-American violist and founding member of the renowned Juilliard String Quartet. Born on August 22, 1911, in Kolozsvár, Hungary (now Cluj-Napoca, Romania), Lehner began his musical studies at a young age. He initially studied violin with his father, a professional violinist, before switching to viola at the age of 14. Lehner continued his studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where he studied with the renowned violist Imre Waldbauer. After graduating from the academy in 1931, Lehner joined the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra as a violist. He also performed with the Budapest String Quartet, which was then led by violinist Joseph Roisman. In 1939, Lehner immigrated to the United States, where he joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a violist. He also began performing with the Kolisch Quartet, which was led by violinist Rudolf Kolisch. In 1946, Lehner joined the faculty of the Berkshire Music Center (now known as the Tanglewood Music Center), where he taught viola and chamber music. In 1947, Lehner became a founding member of the Juilliard String Quartet, which quickly gained a reputation as one of the world's leading chamber ensembles. The quartet's original members also included violinists Robert Mann and Robert Koff, and cellist Arthur Winograd. Lehner remained with the quartet for 30 years, until his retirement in 1977. During his tenure with the Juilliard String Quartet, Lehner performed in countless concerts and made numerous recordings. The quartet was known for its innovative programming and interpretations of both classical and contemporary repertoire. They also premiered many new works, including quartets by Elliott Carter, Milton Babbitt, and Leon Kirchner. In addition to his work with the Juilliard String Quartet, Lehner was also a sought-after soloist and chamber musician. He performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He also collaborated with many of the leading musicians of his time, including pianist Rudolf Serkin and cellist Pablo Casals. Lehner was also a dedicated teacher, and he taught at several institutions throughout his career. In addition to his work at the Berkshire Music Center, he also taught at the Juilliard School, the New England Conservatory of Music, and the University of Southern California. Throughout his career, Lehner received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1976, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Gerald Ford. He was also a recipient of the Hungarian Order of Merit, and he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the New England Conservatory of Music. Lehner passed away on April 22, 2002, at the age of 90. He left behind a legacy as one of the most influential violists of the 20th century, and his contributions to the world of chamber music continue to be celebrated and studied today.

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