Hugo Kortschak

Who was Hugo Kortschak?

Hugo Kortschak, was an Austrian-born American violinist who was a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1907 until 1914, founding member of the Berkshire String Quartet, and Dean of Music at Yale University.

The Berkshire String Quartet was founded when music patroness Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge persuaded Kortschak to move his quartet from Chicago to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where its members could focus exclusively on chamber music. In his youth Kortschak was a member of the Pozniak-Trio founded by the Polish Pianist Bronislaw Pozniak. Kortschak was an owner of several fine violins, including:

In 1914: a Joseph Guarnerius violin, once the property of the Crown Treasurer of Spain; and

Period of ownership unknown: Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, 1739c

From 1925 to 1957: a 1698 Stradivarius violin, once owned by Joseph Joachim

Kortschak was a key figure in organizing the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival founded by Coolidge. The original Berkshire String Quartet disbanded sometime after 1941.