JAVS Spring 2011

on to premiere substantial viola works by several com posers including Michael Colgrass and Alan Hovhaness. During World War II he appeared as soloist with the United States Navy Symphony Orchestra and played viola at the White House for President Roosevelt. After the war, Vardi enjoyed an extensive career as viola soloist and recording artist. His 1965 recording of Paganini’s Twenty-four Caprices for Violin played on viola is a standout, but his numerous recordings reflect an eclectic repertoire ranging from works by Beethoven, Bruch, and Bliss to the American com posers Morton Gould and Seymour Barab. Vardi also enjoyed a career as composer, conductor, teacher, and painter. After breaking his wrist and tear ing his rotator cuff in 1993, he largely devoted his energies to painting. Vardi served as a board member of the American Viola Society and received a citation for Distinguished Service to the AVS in 1989 and the International Viola Society’s Silver Clef in 2002. Vardi passed away at his home on January 29, 2011.

Emanuel Vardi (photo courtesy of Mary Miller)

Emanuel Vardi 1915–2011

Emanuel Vardi was born in Jerusalem; the official date is recorded as April 21, 1915, though the date may have been altered from October 14, 1917, in an effort by his parents to enroll him in school early. Vardi, who immigrated to America in 1920 with his parents, began violin studies at the age of two and a half and gave his New York recital debut at the age of seven—on piano. He continued his violin studies at Juilliard, where he switched to viola after hearing William Primrose, who he went on to study with. Instead of completing his education at Juilliard, Vardi accepted a position with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. He was later a member of the ABC Orchestra and Symphony of the Air. At his critically acclaimed debut viola recital in February 1941, he premiered Alan Shulman’s Theme and Variations for Viola and Piano. Vardi would go

J OURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VIOLA SOCIETY 14