Erich Höbarth
In my new blog I would first like to feature the wonderful Viennese violinist Erich Höbarth. It is through him and the other members of the “Quatuor Mosaiques” that I got acquainted with many beautiful recordings of Mozart, Haydn and more recently Beethoven string quartets. Many of my instruments have been built with this music playing during work, deeply inspiring me.
It was after a live concert in London´s Wigmore Hall that I introduced myself to him and showed him one of my violins. How exciting that he ended up purchasing it! Over the years a friendship has developed with a lot of artistic exchange, even sharing a passion for jazz music. Hearing my violin in his hands on stage with the Vienna String Sextet, the Camerata Bern, in trio with Heinrich Schiff and Lars Vogt, in recitals with his pianist wife Nadja, in violin duets with his daughter Marina and in other combinations has not only made me proud but also very happy. The only regret I have is that I could not hear him play the solo in Mozart´s Sinfonia Concertante with Andras Schiff´s Cappella Andrea Barca in New York´s Carnegie Hall.
Thanks to a truly great musician!
Listen to some late Haydn here played by the Quatuor Mosaiques.