Béla Bartók composed his first violin concerto specifically for Stefi Geyer, though the piece remained unpublished until after both the composer and the performer had died. A central figure in European classical music during the early twentieth century, Geyer maintained a dual career as a prominent concertmaster and a rigorous educator throughout her life in Hungary and Switzerland.
Early Training and Career
Born in Budapest in 1888, Geyer began playing the violin at age five. Her formal instruction took place at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, where she studied under the guidance of Jenő Hubay. Her technical abilities quickly distinguished her among her contemporaries, leading to a career defined by high-level performance and international recognition.
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Geyer served as a muse for multiple composers who wrote works explicitly for her. Beyond the concerto by Bartók, the Swiss composer Othmar Schoeck composed a violin concerto for her. Additionally, Willy Burkhard dedicated his 1943 violin concerto to Geyer and Paul Sacher, reflecting her significant influence on the contemporary repertoire of the era.
Professional Life in Switzerland
In 1920, Geyer married the Swiss composer Walter Schulthess and moved to Zurich. Her activities in her new home included performing, teaching, and administrative work. She held a position at the Zurich Conservatory from 1934 until 1953, influencing a new generation of musicians, including the composer Klaus Huber. In 1941, she co-founded the Collegium Musicum Zürich alongside Schulthess and Sacher.
Personal History and Legacy
Geyer experienced personal loss during the First World War when her first husband, the Vienna lawyer Edwin Jung, died during the flu epidemic. She later integrated herself fully into the Swiss musical landscape. By the time of her death in 1956 in Zurich, she had solidified her reputation through both her pedagogical contributions at the conservatory and her foundational work in establishing local musical institutions.
Fast facts
- Born: 1888, Budapest
- Died: 1956, Zurich
- Primary Instrument: Violin
- Education: Franz Liszt Academy of Music
- Teaching Tenure: Zurich Conservatory, 1934–1953
- Notable Institution Founded: Collegium Musicum Zürich, 1941
- Citizenship: Hungary
Questions readers ask
Which composers dedicated concertos to Stefi Geyer?
Béla Bartók, Othmar Schoeck, and Willy Burkhard all wrote or dedicated violin concertos to her.
Where did Stefi Geyer teach music?
She taught at the Zurich Conservatory between 1934 and 1953, an institution that eventually became part of the Zurich University of the Arts.
Achievements
- Instruments: violin
- Genres: classical music
