A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Laub, Ferdinand

by Paul David

LAUB, Ferdinand, one of the most remarkable violin-players of our day, was born Jan. 19, 1832, at Prague, where his father was a musician. His talent shewed itself very early; at six he mastered Variations by De Beriot, and at nine performed regularly in public. At eleven he attracted the notice of Berlioz and Ernst, and shortly after was taken up by the Grand Duke Stephen, and by him sent to Vienna in 1847. After this he visited Paris, and, in 1851, London, where he played at the Musical Union, and, in 1853 succeeded Joachim at Weimar. Two years later we find him at Berlin as Kammervirtuos and Concertmeister of the Court band, and leader of quartet-concerts of his own. At length, after considerable wandering, he settled at Moscow in 1866 as head Professor of the Violin in the Conservatorium, and first violin at the Musikgesellschaft, with great liberty of action. But Russia did not agree with him, and the state of his health compelled him in 1874 to take the baths at Karlsbad. The benefit however was but temporary, and on March 17, 1875, he died of a disordered liver, at Gries, near Botzen, in the Tyrol. Laub was certainly one of the greatest violin-virtuosos of recent times. He had a fine and very powerful tone and a brilliant technique, and played with much feeling and passion. His répertoire was very large, comprising all the important classical works and a great many modern compositions. His frequent performances of Joachim's Hungarian Concerto deserve special mention. He had also much success as a quartet-player, but his style, especially in latter years, has not unjustly been reproached with mannerism and a tendency to exaggeration.

[ P. D. ]