The Slovakian violinist was a member of the orchestra since 1993, performing with the group the evening before his death
The Frankfurt Radio Symphony has announced the death of its long-standing violinist, Peter Zelienka. Zelienka died on Saturday 23 November 2024 and was due to perform at the Städel Museum that evening, having performed with the orchestra at the Alte Oper the previous night.
The orchestra described Zelienka as a central member of its violin section for decades. ’He was also the heart of our chamber music activities and the soul of the Orchestra Academy of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra.
’Above all, he was a friend and a great person. We are all shocked and unspeakably sad and cannot believe it. He leaves behind a huge void that will remain.’
Zelienka was born in Zvolen in Slovakia in 1961. He studied violin, chamber music and conducting at the Prague Conservatory. In 1982, he emigrated from what was then Czechoslovakia and continued his studies at the Frankfurt University of Music with Edith Peinemann, Ida Bieler (violin) and Dušan Pandula (chamber music).
With Pandula he founded the Hába Quartet in 1984, in which he played viola from 1999. Zelienka was also a member of the Ensemble Phorminx from 1995 to 2002, during which time he participated in tours in Europe and Asia, gave premieres and made recordings for various radio stations and record companies.
Zelienka joined the Frankfurt Radio Symphony in 1993 and organised the orchestra’s chamber music series for over 20 years. Additionally, Zelienk directed the Frankfurt Radio Symphony’s Orchestra Academy since its founding in 2014.
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