Munich mourns a concertmaster
mainThe long-serving concertmaster of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra Werner Grobholz died on February 16 after a long illness. He was 79.
He joined the orchestra in 1966, aged 24, and was made concertmaster two years later under Rudolf Kempe. His longest and closest condcutor relationship, lasting 17 years, was with Sergiu Celibidache.
Grobholz gave his all in the concertmaster solos of Richard Strauss ‘Ein Heldenleben’ and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. He also led the Münchner Kammersolisten and worked with Iona Brown at the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.
A colleague writes: ‘Grobholz was musican’s musican, free of any self-serving star affectations. His warm tone, and deep musicianship were an inspiration to many.’
Very sad news. He was not only an outstanding musician but a very generous person. Once before a desperately sold out Celibidache concert I approached him if he had any ideas and he managed to organise a ticket for me even though he didn’t know me personally. I will never forget that.
Lieber Werner Grobholz,
lange Jahre als Künstler, dann auch als Nachbar und in jeder Beziehung hilfreicher Freund habe ich Dich schätzen gelernt. Natürlich werde ich Dich vermissen, aber ich weiß, Du bist jetzt an einem guten Platz im Himmel, RIP
Lieber Werner,
meine Bewunderung für Dich galt lebenslang. Schon während unseres gemeinsamen Studiums in Detmold warst Du mein Vorbild. Angefangen hat es mit Wieniawskis “Scherzo Tarantelle”, und Du warst ein Jahr jünger als ich!!! Später wurde ich Bratschist…
(Ich habe Dich in meinem Buch “Begegnungen-Autobiographisches” Bd. 7 (2019) dem entsprechend bewundernd erwähnt.
Ruhe in Frieden, lieber Werner. Dein Kommilitone Eckart Schloifer