JAVS Fall 1989

35

Section Chicago Symphony Orchestra c/o Julie A. Griffen, Auditions Coord., Chicago Symphony Orchestra 220 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60604, USA Pacific Symphony Orchestra c/o Paul Zibits, Personnel Manager, PSO, 115 E. Santa Blvd, PO Box 569 Santa Ana, CA 92702, USA Boston Symphony Orchestra c/o Mr. Lynn Larsen, Tanglewood Shed, Lenox, MA 01240, USA About Violists SOL GREITZER DIES Sol Greitzer, a member of the AVS, and a prominent violist and the New York Philharmoic's longtime pricipal player until he resigned in 1985, died of a stroke in Manhattan on 31 August 1989. He was 63 years old. Mr. Greitzer played with the NBC Symphony under Toscanini in the early 1950's and joined the Philharmonic in 1954. He was named principal violist by Pierre Boulez, then the music director, in 1972. Mr. Greitzer was also a distinguished soloist and gave the premieres of concertos by Jacob Druckman and William Thomas McKinley. He also played as soloist under such conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Daniel Barenboim, James Levine, Rafael Kubelik, Zubin Mehta and Gerard Schwarz. Since leaving the Philharmonic, Mr. Greitzer had been an active performer and was on the faculties of the Mannes School oand the State University of New York at Purchase. He collapsed while telephoning a student and was taken to St. Luke's Hospital where he died. Mr. Greitzer was born in New York in 1925, the son of a shoe designer. He began as a violinist, in which capacity he appeared as a soloist with the City

made by Mr. Primrose. I almost bought the 24 Paganini Caprices by Mr. Vardi, but someone beat me to them. I shall continue to persevere in my quest for additions to my collection. Again, I love the viola. Maybe it's the timbre, so close to my baritone voice with the slightly nasal quality. Its warm tone speaks directly to my heart, and that's from someone who has never drawn a bow across its strings. I'm trying to be a preserver of viola performances of the past, the present and hopefully many years into the future. If any collectors are reading these words, I certainly would like to hear from you. I'm in the AVS directory. Happy listening!

David O. Brown 9 Grouse Drive Brentwood, NY 11717

Of Interest

1990 CONGRESS

The XVIII International Viola Congress will be held 21 May-4 June 1990 in Lille, France. It will be sponsored by Les amis de l'alto, the French chapter of the International Viola Society. For information write: Prof. Paul Hadjaje

11 bis, rue Neuve-Saint Germain F-92100 Boulonge Bellancourt France

Watch for further details in the next

issue of JAVS.

VIOLA ORCHESTRAL VACANCIES

Assistant Principal Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Joseph Wathall, Personnel Manager Atlanta Symphony Orchestra 1293 Peachtree Street, T.E. Atlanta, GA 30309