The musician was also a professor at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin
Artemis Quartet violist Friedemann Weigle has died at the age of 53 following a long battle with illness.
Born in 1962, Weigle was a founding member of the Petersen Quartet as a student, with whom he performed for 20 years. He also served as principal violist of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin for four years.
He joined the Artemis Quartet in 2007, replacing Volker Jacobsen, and became a professor or chamber music with his fellow Artemis members at Berlin University of the Arts. He was also professor of viola and chamber music at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin at the time of his death.
The remaining Artemis members have written a tribute on their website:
‘With his death, Vineta Sareika, Gregor Sigl and Eckart Runge have lost a colleague, companion and friend; the music world has lost a wonderful, inspiring and extraordinary person, musician and teacher.
‘For 30 years, Friedemann Weigle was one of the most important figures of the international string quartet scene and a passionate, devoted mentor.
‘We will always remember the violist standing on the rightmost side of the stage, his feet firmly planted on the ground and his dark hair flowing with the music. Above all, the sound of his viola -- so special and so moving -- will remain with us for a very long time to come.’
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