Rockin' with Roland: 1st Concertmaster of the Elbphilharmonie Orchestra
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Ever since August 1, 1982, our groovy pals over at Elbphilharmonie Orchestra have had Roland Greutter strummin' the strings as their lead guitarist, er, wait, I mean 1st Concertmaster.
Greuther: The One-Man Stradivarius Symphony
With more than 4 decades under his belt, Roland Greuther has been our Elbphilharmonie Orchestra's frontman, keeping the strings hummin' and the crowd screamin' for more. Here's the lowdown...
Born in the melodious city of Linz, Austria, this maestro began his musical journey with violin lessons at the Mozarteum. Fueled by his passion for music, he furthered his education at the Juilliard School in New York and Indiana University, learning from some of the greats like Ivan Galamian and Joseph Gingold. He coasted to victory in competitions like the Artists International Competition New York and the Wieniawski Competition at the Juilliard School, bless his soul.
Greuther: Shredder Extraordinaire
Roland Greuther's name rings a bell in European, American, and Asian concert halls, where he's wooed audiences as a daring soloist under the batons of legendary conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Myung-Whun Chung, and Günter Wand. He's performed in iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Elbphilharmonie, and the Berliner Philharmonie, to name a few.
Roland Greuther is also a regular at prestigious music festivals like Marlboro Music Festival, IMS Prussia Cove, and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. He's jammed with luminaries like Rudolf Serkin, Sandor Vegh, Leonard Bernstein, and Lorin Maazel, all while slaying it as a chamber musician alongside Christoph Eschenbach, Me-Jin Moon, and Martin Grubinger.
Catch this legend on record with an unusually broad repertoire from baroque to contemporary music, and he's even premiered his own violin concertos. Now, that's what I call a rockstar!
In addition to his mind-blowing solo career, Greuther has served as a conductor, leading the Latvian National Orchestra and the Sinfonietta Cracovia, among others. When he's not impressing the crowd with his incredible talent, he's sharing that knowledge by teaching masterclasses around the globe.
Whether he's rocking out with his legendary Montagnana violin, built in 1736, or jamming with his mentor and pal, the fabulous René Morel, there's no denying Roland Greutter is the maestro we all wanna see shredding a solo.
COVID Chronicles: A Musical Survival Story
The pandemic may have disrupted our daily lives, but not the spirit of the 1st Concertmaster. In the face of adversity, Greuther moved his jams to the digital realm, recording several incredible performances, including:
- Solist in Haydn's Sinfonia concertante during the "Sounds like Gilbert" festival
- Eugène Ysaye's Solo Sonata No. 4 as part of the "Elphi At Home" clips
- Bach/Rachmaninoff: Prelude à la Corona, an arrangement for 15 violins by Roland Greutter
These performances, recorded during the tough corona lockdown, showcase Greuther's unwavering dedication to his craft. Rumor has it Roland Greutter even took things to the next level, curating a new climate-themed concert, with the orchestra debuting a revamped version of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons." Now, that's a melody for the planet!
Roland Greuther may have hung up his 1st Concertmaster hat in 2023, but his legacy lives on with his successor picking up the baton (or the violin bow). The search for a fitting replacement has ended with a former concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra stepping into his shoes, indeed, a tough act to follow, as Greuther's reign ushered in an era of unparalleled success for the Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. So let's keep the tunes rollin', here's to Roland Greuther, the one-man symphony, who rocked thestrings of the 1st Concertmaster at the Elbphilharmonie Orchestra for more than 40 years!
During his tenure at the Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Roland Greuther not only mastered the violin as the 1st Concertmaster but also brought an element of entertainment to the music, often leaving the crowd in awe. His performances, even in digital formats during the pandemic, were a testament to his dedication and passion for music.
