Frederick Riddle
Frederick Craig Riddle
Early life and career
Frederick Riddle was born in Liverpool in 1912. He studied at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London from 1928 to 1933. He had a solo career while playing with the London Symphony Orchestra from 1933 to 1938. In 1938, was appointed principal viola with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a professor of the RCM from 1948 onwards. In 1953, he succeeded Harry Danks as principal violist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[2]
Riddle was distinguished as a chamber music player and a concerto soloist. He made the first recording of William Walton's Viola Concerto, on 6 December 1937,[3] with the composer conducting.[4] He was recommended for this recording by Lionel Tertis. He made some revisions to the concerto, with Walton's approval.[5] Although Walton conducted the work many times with leading soloists such as Tertis and William Primrose, the interpretation he liked above all others was Riddle's.[6] He also performed the work in concert under Beecham.[2]
Personal life and death
Riddle was married twice, and had three daughters. He was appointed an Officer of the
He died in Newport on the Isle of Wight in 1995, aged 82. He was survived by Clare, his second wife, who died in 2018, at the age of 101.[8]
Premieres
Works that Frederick Riddle premiered included:
- Malcolm Arnold's Viola Sonata, in the 1940s.[9]
- Arthur Benjamin's Viola Concerto, in 1948, with the Hallé Orchestra under Sir John Barbirolli.
- Giorgio Federico Ghedini's Viola Concerto, in 1953, with Beecham conducting.[2]
- Sir Charles Groves
- Howard Blake's Prelude for Solo Viola, Op. 402, in 1980[10]
Appearances and recordings
He appeared in such works as:
- Berlioz: Harold en Italie (recorded with Beecham[3] and Hermann Scherchen[11])
- Delius: Serenade from incidental music to James Elroy Flecker's Hassan (recorded with Beecham)
- E.J. Moeran: Trio for Strings in G major, R. 59 (recorded with Jean Pougnet, violin; and Anthony Pini, 2nd viola)
- Mozart: Duo for Violin and Viola No. 1 in G major, K 423 (recorded with Szymon Goldberg)
- Mozart: Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano in E flat, K 498 ("Kegelstatt Trio") (recorded with Reginald Kell and Louis Kentner)[3]
- Rubbra: Viola Concerto in A, Op. 75 (with Beecham)[2]
- Richard Strauss: Don Quixote (recorded with John Kennedy, RPO, Beecham conducting)[12]
- Vaughan Williams: Flos Campi (with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta and Bournemouth Sinfonietta Chorus, under Norman Del Mar)[3]
- Vaughan Williams: Suite for Viola[13]
Sources
- Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed, 1954, Vol. VII, p. 160
- Music Web International
References
- ^ "BBC Music Magazine". Archived from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d Alan Denson (25 February 1995). "Obituary: Frederick Riddle". The Independent.
- ^ a b c d ArkivMusik
- ^ a b Answers.com
- ^ williamwalton.net Archived 2010-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Walton Viola Concerto: A Synthesis Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Elizabeth Forbes (30 August 1994). "Obituary: Audrey Langford". The Independent.
- ^ a b Obituaries, Telegraph (25 September 2018). "Helen Clare, singer – obituary". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Naxos
- ^ howardblake.com
- ^ clsassicalcdreview
- ^ somm recordings
- ^ Classical.net
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