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The German-born concert pianist and harpsichordist, Ernst Victor Wolff, maintained a career not only as a soloist but also as a respected accompanist. Singers with whom he performed included the African-American mezzo-soprano Dorothy Maynor and the Russian-born bass Alexander Kipnis; he accompanied the latter in the Hugo Wolf Society recording project of the 1930’s. As a harpsichordist, on February 20, 1938 he participated in the Carnegie Hall premiere of J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata (BWV 211) under the direction of Walter Damrosch; the other performers on that occasion included singers Charles Kullman, Helen Jepson, and Lawrence Tibbett; flutist Frances Blaisdell; violinists Jascha Heifetz and Sascha Jacobsen; violist Leon Barzin; cellist Gaspar Cassadó; and double bassist Anselme Fortier.
From 1955 until his death, Ernst Victor Wolff taught at Michigan State University. His widow and family donated a collection of his papers to the MSU library; it includes photographs and other memorabilia and his diary, student notes, and performing scores. MSU has established an Ernst Victor Wolff Memorial Fund to support awards to meritorious music students. Perhaps his most distinguished student was the American conductor, musicologist, and harpsichordist Alan Curtis. |
