Vienna Philhamonic mourns principal cellist, 67
mainStatement from Vienna Pil:
We mourn the loss of our dear co-principal cellist Friedrich Doležal, whom we will always remember as a very kind, cheerful and humorous colleague.
Fritz, as we use to call him, joined the orchestra in 1968 (first as member at the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, then in 1973 as member of the VPO) and retired only last year on September 1, 2014. May he rest in peace.
Seriously, check the spelling before publishing, it’s becoming a recurring problem. The Vienna Pil is not an orchestra.
This must be particularly sad not just for family and friends but for the whole Vienna Philharmonic community as they have now lost 3 players in the last 3 years within years of their retirement: Herbert Linke (1st Violin) died in 2012 age 66, Wolfgang Schulz (1st flute) died in 2013 age 67 and now Friedrich Doležal at just 67.
How tragic!
Fritz was a great musician and lovely man. We met when he performed in a Vienna Philharmonic quartet in Los Angeles, subsequently heard him with the Wiener Philharmoniker in Vienna. He graciously provided tickets, invited us to a very special private chamber concert in a palace there. How rare to hear chamber music in a glorious space where it was originally meant to be performed! His beautiful Japan-born wife must miss him very much. The world lost a great human being. Too soon!