Max Rostal

1905-1991

Portrait of Rostal, looking remarkably
like George Costanza from Seinfeld.

Austrian born, left the Austro-Germanic region with the rise of Hitler in 1933. Declared British citizenship later in life.
Studied with Flesch.
Played violin and viola.
Part of career included editing and creating piano reductions of large works.
Also wrote "Handbook of Violin Playing," an etude book.

Rostal performed an immensely wide variety of music. Composers include: Korngold Elgar, Walton, Bartok, Berg, Shostakovich, Schubert, Schumann, Debussy, Stravinsky, JS Bach, Tartini, Beethoven.

While touring through England, Rostal was acclaimed for his, "sweet, transparent tone underlaid by rhythmic drive and incisive attack." I think this praise for his tone is evident in the Korngold recording below.

Here is a rare recording of Rostal playing the Garden Scene from Korngold's suite of Incidental Music.
The performance took place in 1924, with young Rostal playing with an unknown piano accompanist.

There is now the International Max Rostal Competition for Violin and Viola
The competition is available to young players, age 30 or younger, perhaps reflecting the success Rostal saw young in life. Additionally, the fact that it is available to violinists and violists (Rostal played both) is reflected in the competition's requirements.