Long-standing LSO principal second violinist to retire

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Members of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) have shared their fond memories and wishes for violinist David Alberman ahead of his retirement in May.  

Alberman, who is principal second violin with the orchestra and chair of the orchestra committee of the board, will retire at the end of the LSO’s tour to Australia after 25 years with the orchestra.  

‘How he keeps his patience with the rest of us, who, let’s face it, tend to know considerably less than he does, I will never fathom,’ said Sir Simon Rattle, who has worked with Alberman since he was a teenager. ‘His keen intelligence is married to one of the sharpest levels of wit and irony in my experience… Dear David, you remain deep in our hearts. Bless you.’ 

Alberman received a LRAM diploma from the Royal Academy of Music aged 16. Since then, he has been a member of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the LSO and concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Alberman has also appeared as guest concertmaster for LSO, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and a soloist with the Orchestre de Lille, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra, among others. 

In 1986, Alberman joined the Arditti Quartet, a quartet specialising in contemporary music. Through the quartet, Alberman took part in over 200 world premieres and won multiple awards including Le Monde de la Musique in 1989 for the quartet’s recording of John Cage’s complete string quartets. 

‘David has been quite simply the rock of the LSO during these tumultuous years of the pandemic,’ LSO first violinist and vice-chair of the board, Harriet Rayfield said. ‘David’s natural intellect, diligence, humility and integrity are always doused in a large dose of self-deprecating humour, which immediately established our easy rapport together.’ 

Fellow LSO board member and first violinist, Maxine Kwok said: ‘David has unfailingly been the most professional and prepared member of the LSO for the 22 years I’ve shared a stage with him. I hope he can waltz into a well-deserved retirement from the LSO playing his beloved “contemptible music” as he affectionately calls it. He’ll be greatly missed as principal second, chair and as a huge personality with the most incredible dry wit that often had me crying with laughter.’ 

The LSO begins its eight-day Australia Tour 2023 on Friday 28 April in Brisbane with a programme of Adams, Debussy and Ravel. 

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