Death of an enterprising concertmaster
mainThe National Orchestra of Spain has announced the death of Victor Martín, its concertmaster from 1977 to 2001.
French born, Victor Martin was first violin of the Boccherini Quintet in Rome and founder of the Cassado Quartet. He kick-started the New Music Society in Toronto and the Spanish Chamber Orchestra.
He was professor at the the University of Toronto and, from 1980, at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid.
Victor Martin was influential in 1970s as the leader/violinist of the Chamber Players of Toronto (a group that sported young Joel Quarrington on double bass). Martin did good work in Toronto public schools as well. According to a reliable source, he was a friend of Joaquín Rodrigo.
Victor was also a freind of famous Spanish cellist and composer Gaspar Cassado.