Ernst Friedlander

Classical cellist, composer, and teacher. Born on October 6, 1906 in Vienna, naturalized Canadian in 1963, died on October 28, 1966 in North Vancouver. Married to He studied 1928-30 in Vienna with Anton Walter (cello) and Heinrich Schenker (theory), among others. After an active concert career in Europe he moved in 1937 to the USA, where he was principal cellist with the Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Kansas City, and Chicago SOs, was a member 1943-55 of the Pro Arte Quartet, and taught at the universities of Wisconsin and Oklahoma. He made his US solo debut at Town Hall, New York, 19 November 1943. In 1958, he moved to Vancouver, where he served as principal cellist 1958-66 with the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He was cellist 1960-66 with the Vancouver String Quartet and taught 1958-66 at the University of British Columbia. With his wife, the pianist Marie (Elisabeth) Werbner (born 4 March 1911; died 2 March 1995), he performed on CBC Radio, premiered Milhaud's Sonata for Cello at the 1959 Vancouver International Festival, and recorded works by Malipiero, Cowell and Coulthard on Contemporary Music for Cello (1964, Col MS-6542/Odyssey XLP-75842), an LP that also includes Friedlander's performance of his own Sonata (1963) for solo cello. His other compositions include a Cello Concerto (1959), Minnelied for cello and piano (1964, Empire 1972), a Rhapsody for cello or bassoon and orchestra (1964), and works for string quartet, brass sextet, and chamber orchestra.