Josef Wolfsthal assisted his teacher Carl Flesch at the Hochschule in Berlin, teaching students like the 10-year-old Szymon Goldberg.
Performer Biography
Josef Wolfsthal, the violinist on this album, was described as 'outstanding' by Max Rostal, 'stunning' by Szymon Goldberg, and 'an inspiring musician' by Louis Krasner.
Performer Biography
Josef Wolfsthal was the first pupil of Carl Flesch, a renowned violin pedagogue, to die before reaching their full potential.
Performer Biography
Despite his significant talent, Josef Wolfsthal has no entry in Grove's Dictionary and is rarely mentioned in standard reference books.
Performer Biography
Josef Wolfsthal played in a trio with cellist Gregor Piatigorsky and pianist Leonid Szreter, and later with cellist Emanuel Feuermann and composer Paul Hindemith.
Historical Context
As a Jew, Josef Wolfsthal was removed from German reference books after 1933, leading to his being largely forgotten.
Interpretation
Josef Wolfsthal's performances on this album are noted for their clean, modern style, using little vibrato but with predominant expressive qualities.
