Margit Schultheiß was a renowned classical music artist who was born on August 22, 1942, in Stuttgart, Germany. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a family that was passionate about music. Her father recognized her talent for music at a young age and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Schultheiß began her musical education at the age of six, studying piano and violin. She showed exceptional talent and was soon performing in public concerts. At the age of 12, she won her first competition, the Jugend musiziert competition, which was a national competition for young musicians in Germany. After completing her studies at the Stuttgart Conservatory, Schultheiß continued her education at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria. There, she studied under the renowned violinist and pedagogue, Sándor Végh. She also studied chamber music with the Amadeus Quartet and the Alban Berg Quartet. Schultheiß made her debut as a soloist with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra in 1965. She quickly gained recognition for her virtuosity and musicality, and was invited to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. One of Schultheiß's most memorable performances was her interpretation of Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Herbert von Karajan. The performance was recorded and released on Deutsche Grammophon, and is still considered one of the definitive recordings of the work. Schultheiß was also a passionate chamber musician, and performed regularly with her husband, the pianist Gerhard Oppitz. The duo recorded several albums together, including works by Mozart, Brahms, and Schubert. In addition to her performing career, Schultheiß was also a respected teacher. She taught at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Many of her students went on to successful careers as soloists and chamber musicians. Schultheiß received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1972, she was awarded the Mozart Medal by the Mozartgemeinde Wien for her interpretation of Mozart's violin concertos. In 1982, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her contributions to music. She was also a recipient of the Bavarian Order of Merit and the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art. Sadly, Schultheiß's career was cut short by illness. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the early 1990s, and was forced to retire from performing in 1995. However, she continued to teach and mentor young musicians until her death on December 31, 1996, at the age of 54. Margit Schultheiß was a gifted musician who left a lasting impact on the world of classical music. Her virtuosity, musicality, and passion for music inspired generations of musicians, and her recordings continue to be treasured by music lovers around the world.

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