Dhe Austrian violinist Alice Harnoncourt has died at the age of 91. This was announced by the instrumental ensemble Concentus Musicus in Vienna, which she co-founded, on Wednesday. She was the widow of the Berlin-born cellist and conductor Nicholas Harnoncourtwho died in 2016.
Throughout their lives, both had questioned the common performance practice of classical music and advocated a historically authentic original sound. They had married in 1953.
“We will treasure the fond memories of her unique violin playing, her tireless commitment to music and her great understanding of us musicians,” the ensemble said on its Facebook page.
The Theater an der Wien also testified in a message in the evening Facebook his grief: “Your sensitivity and your deep understanding distinguished you as a communicator in all areas,” it said. “In the ten scenic productions that we were able to realize together at the Theater an der Wien, she was instrumental in the artistic success.”