Antonín Dvořák wrote his Cello Concerto in B minor with Hanuš Wihan in mind, incorporating technical suggestions from the cellist during the composition process in 1894. This collaboration marked the apex of a career that spanned the concert halls of Austria–Hungary and beyond, cementing Wihan’s role as one of the most significant instrumentalists of his era.
Early Training and International Appointments
Born in Police nad Metují in 1855, Wihan entered the Prague Conservatory at age 13, where he studied under František Hegenbarth. He completed his formal education under Karl Davydov at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. By age 18, he had secured a teaching position at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. His early career included stints in private orchestras in Nice and Lugano, a year with Benjamin Bilse’s Berlin orchestra, and a tenure with the court orchestra in Munich. During his eight years in Munich, he moved within circles involving Richard Wagner and Franz Strauss, eventually premiering works such as Richard Strauss’s Cello Sonata in F, Op. 6.
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In 1891, Wihan founded the Bohemian String Quartet, initially serving as manager and mentor to pupils of Antonín Bennewitz, including Karel Hoffmann, Josef Suk, Oskar Nedbal, and his own student, Otakar Berger. He officially joined the ensemble as cellist in 1897 following Berger's death. Renamed the Czech String Quartet in 1892, the group became a prominent musical institution in Europe. Wihan’s leadership was characterized by a distinct approach to interpretation, influencing the ensemble's reputation until his retirement in 1914, at which point he secured a residual income from the group's earnings.
Legacy and Academic Contributions
Beyond his performance career, Wihan was a dedicated educator. Upon returning to Prague after the dissolution of his marriage to pianist Dora Weis, he succeeded Hegenbarth at the Prague Conservatory. In 1919, following the reorganization of the institution, he served as a professor of cello and chamber music. His students included Jan Burian, Julius Junek, and Bedřich Vaska. Wihan passed away on 1 May 1920 in New Town and was interred at the Olšany Cemetery. The Wihan Quartet, established in 1985 at the Prague Academy, remains an ongoing tribute to his influence.
Fast facts
- Born: 1855, Police nad Metují
- Died: 1920, New Town
- Citizenship: Austria–Hungary
- Primary Instrument: Cello
- Notable Ensemble: Bohemian Quartet
- Burial Site: Olšany Cemetery
- Key Collaborator: Antonín Dvořák
Questions readers ask
Why did Hanuš Wihan not perform the premiere of the Dvořák Cello Concerto?
Contractual obligations with the Czech String Quartet prevented him from performing on the only available date for the London premiere in 1896.
What was his relationship with the Czech String Quartet after his 1914 retirement?
He ceased performing with the group but continued to receive 20 percent of the quartet's earnings until his death.
Achievements
- Instruments: cello
