Laub, Ferdinand

Born Jan. 19, 1832, in Prague; died Mar. 18, 1875, in Gries, Tirol. Czech violinist, teacher, and composer.

Laub graduated in 1846 from the Prague Conservatory, where he studied violin with M. Mildner. One of the greatest violin virtuosos of his time, Laube toured many countries, including Russia (for the first time in 1859). From 1866 to 1874 he was a professor at the Moscow Conservatory, where his friends included V. F. Odoevskii, N. G. Rubinstein, and P. I. Tchaikovsky. Laub directed the quartet of the Russian Music Society, which gave the first performance of the First and Second string quartets by Tchaikovsky, who dedicated his Third Quartet to Laub’s memory.

Laub was best known for his interpretations of J. S. Bach, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn. His playing was deeply expressive and full of romantic emotivity; he had a fine tone and a brilliant technique. Laub wrote pieces for violin and piano and songs with Czech folk lyrics.