A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Wilhelmi, Auguste

WILHELMI, Auguste Emil Daniel Friedrich Victor, violinist, born at Usingen in Nassau Sept. 21, 1845, his mother being a good singer and pianoforte player; was first taught by K. Fischer of Wiesbaden, under whom he made astonishing strides, playing in public as early as 9. By the advice of Liszt he spent from 1861 to 1864 at the Leipzig Conservatorium under F. David, learning composition from Hauptmann, then from Richter, and afterwards at Wiesbaden from Raff. While at the Conservatorium he made an appearance at the Gewandhaus Concerts in 1862, and shortly afterwards began that career of wandering which he has maintained ever since, and always with great success. In 1865 he visited Switzerland; in 1866 Holland and England; in 1867 France and Italy. In 1869, 70, and 71 he was again in England, and made a long tour with Santley; in 1868, Russia, etc.—In 1872 he made his début at Berlin, and in 1873 at Vienna. At the Nibelungen performances at Bayreuth in 1876 Wilhelmi led the violins. The Wagner Concerts at the Albert Hall, London, in 1877, were due to his representations, and here again he led the first violins. [See Wagner, p. 363b.] In 1878 he made his first tour in America.—Wilhelmi resides at Biberich on the Rhine in the intervals of his artistic tours. He is second to no living artist in his general command over the resources of his instrument, and excels in the purity and volume of his tone, no less than in the brilliancy of his execution. His repertoire includes the principal works of the great masters: but Bach and Paganini appear to be his favourite authors.

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