LA Phil concertmaster dies
RIPThe immaculate violinist Sidney Weiss has died at the age of 95.
After six years with Georg Solti in Chicago, and another six in Monte Carlo, he was hired in 1979 by Carlo-Maria Giulini as concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he stayed on under Previn and Salonen until 1994.
He formed a successful duo with his wife, Jeanne Weiss.
Gosh, that’s sad. I remember hearing him play a solo recital in London in 1971 or 2 at the Purcell Room. Immaculate playing it was. He played on a violin he made himself. He certainly made it sound as good as any fine old master instrument. Can anyone think of another prominent player who did this? Beautiful solos in Solti’s Mahler 8 recording too. RIP
I believe Sidney Weiss also used violin bows he made himself! And on one of his recital CDs the striking cover photo was of a beautiful miniature violin, bow and case, exquisite and complete in every detail, that he had made, resting on a piano keyboard.
In response to Michael’s question, I have some vague recollection that Nils-Erik Sparf has also performed and recorded on a violin and/or viola he made himself, although his regular concert instrument is a Strad.
Recommended recordings by Sidney Weiss, apart from concertmaster solos I mean, would include the “double” concertos for violin and piano by Mendelssohn and Haydn, recorded with his wife on the Crystal CD label. The above mentioned recital disc, also with his wife, has sonatas of Mozart and Grieg but also short encore works and it is on Summit.
Also on Crystal is a CD with the sonatas of Elgar, Walton and Strauss, and again the excellent pianist is his wife.
These recordings all do justice to his clean and polished technique and very bright, forward, and electric violin tone. It is always sad to lose a fine artist.
Norman, perhaps the headline should have read “Former LA Phil Concertmaster Dies.” You gave me a scare for a minute, thinking it was Martin Chalifour.
Par for the course around here!
I thought the same thing!
Norman likes to keep us guessing.
95 is a good age. People die at 65.
people also die when they’re your age. So what?
I think Norman’s math is (or “Maths” are) off. Sidney Weiss was CSO concertmaster from 1967-72, so that would have been a mere three years with Solti. I hadn’t realized he went to LA when Giulini went there; I’m guessing their work together at the CSO inspired that move.
But Solti seemed to hold him in high regard; IIRC when did the “Solti Orchestral Project” at Carnegie Hall in the early 1990s, he enlisted Sidney Weiss as concertmaster.
I am remembering him playing the solos in Heldenleben when the LAPO came to the Proms with Mehta in 1974………….
That would have been the other Sidney, Sidney Harth. Weiss succeeded Harth. Coincidently, both were concertmasters of the CSO.
That would have been Sidney Harth in 1974. That was my first tour with the orchestra.
“LA PHIL CONCERTMASTER DIES”
Nope. Here in America no one other than physicians hold a title for life. There is no President Obama. There is Mr Obama or former president Obama, but not President Obama. Why? Because it disrespects the current office holder who IS the president. Much like you just did to the current concertmaster of the LA Phil. And you goddamn well KNOW IT, Lebrecht. Stop insulting the collective intelligence of your readership.
True but other than physicians, I’m fairly certain Muti is the MD emeritus “for life”..(muhahaha) you should know that since you have ties to Chicago
Wonderful record of the two of them doing the Elgar violin sonata
I hope people go on playing the violins he built. Fine instruments they must be.