British violist
Frederick Craig Riddle OBE (20 April 1912 – 5 February 1995) was a British violist. He was considered to be in the line from Lionel Tertis and William Primrose, through to the violists of today such as Lawrence Power.[1]
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 Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1980.[4] His first wife was soprano, conductor, and voice teacher Audrey Langford.[7] In 1946, he married soprano singer Helen Clare.[8]
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:
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]
