Erica Morini

1905 Wien - 1995 New York
Erica Morini, violinist, born January 5th, 1905 in Vienna, the fourth child (Alice, Stella, Albert, Haydée, Frank) of a family of musicians. First violin lessons with her father Oskar, owner of music school, then as a child prodigy in the master class of Otakar Ševčík. Later on private lessons with Jakob Grün, Rosa Hochmann, Arnold Rosé, Adolf Busch, and piano at Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. 1916 she made her debut in Vienna, 1918 she appeared as soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Wilhelm Furtwängler. 1921 she toured the USA, debuting in Carnegie Hall, New York, followed by international concert tours. In 1938 she decided to exile in the USA where she was able to continue her successful career. After WW II in 1949 she returned for a solo recital at the Musikverein to Vienna, 1976 she gave her farewell concert in New York. Erica Morini was awarded the Guadagnini-Violin from Maud Powell and Sarasate’s handkerchief (dedicated in his will to the best interpreter of the ‘Spanish dances’) as well as a honorary doctorate from Smith College North Hampton, Mass. and the New England Conservatory of Music, USA. She passed away November 1, 1995 in New York. Update Primavera Driessen Gruber June 22, 2015