12 Facts About Lionel Tertis

Lionel Tertis was one of the first viola players to achieve international fame, and a noted teacher.

In 1895, after six months at Leipzig Conservatorium, Lionel Tertis entered the Royal Academy of Music in London and studied the violin under Hans Wessely.

The Walton piece was his Viola Concerto; however, Lionel Tertis did not give the world premiere as he found it difficult to comprehend at the time; that honour went to Paul Hindemith.

Lionel Tertis first performed the work a month later at the International Society for Contemporary Music festival in Liege.

Lionel Tertis owned a 1717 Montagnana from 1920 to 1937 which he found during one of his concert tours to Paris in 1920, and took a chance in acquiring.

Lionel Tertis sold the 1717 Montagnana to his pupil Bernard Shore in 1937, who in turn passed it on to his pupil Roger Chase.

Lionel Tertis encouraged and coached Sidney Griller as he worked to found the Griller Quartet in 1928, and influenced the Griller's enthusiasm for the first Viennese School.

Lionel Tertis appeared as soloist only one more time, at a special concert in 1949 to an invited audience at the RAM to help raise money for his fund to encourage the composition of music for the viola.

Lionel Tertis was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1950 New Year's Honours.

Lionel Tertis composed several original works and arranged many pieces not originally for the viola, such as Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto.

Lionel Tertis was the author of a number of publications about string playing, the viola in particular, and his own life.

Lionel Tertis died on 22 February 1975 in Wimbledon, London.