Around the Music Festival

Walter Barylli, a former concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic, has died. He was 100 years old. In addition to being a concertmaster, he led the Barylli Quartet, which gathered members of the orchestra, and built up a magnificent and elegant ensemble, creating an era in Beethoven and Mozart’s performances.

He was born in Vienna in 1921. He made his debut in Munich in 1936 and joined the Vienna State Opera Orchestra on September 1, 1938 at the young age of 17. He then joined the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra after two month later.

His concertmaster promotion was in 1939. Barylli formed the string quartet in 1945, shortly after World War II, a magnificent and elegant ensemble that continued the Viennese playing tradition until it was disbanded in 1959 due to paralysis of the right arm.

He was also the orchestra leader of the orchestra from 1966 to 1969. Later, his paralysis of his right arm worsened and he was forced to retire at a young age in 1972. However, he continued to teach younger generations for a long time. His son is Austrian actor and playwright Gabriel Barylli.

Photo：Vienna Philharmoniker