Ferdinand Adler

Klausenburg, 1903 – 1952, Vienna

Violinist Ferdinand (Nándor) Adler was born in Klausenburg (today: Cluj-Napoca, Romania) in 1903. He received his musical training at first in Budapest and from Autumn 1923, at the Academy for Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he studied violin under Gottfried Feist. His first professional engagement brought him to Bad Ischl, serving as concertmaster in the local Spa Orchestra. Adler also worked as an orchestral and chamber musician in Luzern. After Austria’s annexation by Nazi Germany, Adler, who was Jewish, was arrested and brought to Dachau Concentration Camp, where he remained until May 1939. In the same year, Ferdinand Adler luckily found refuge in Shanghai. With his numerous performances as soloist and chamber musician, he enriched Shanghai’s musical life and advanced to one of the city’s most famous musicians. He was appointed concertmaster of the Shanghai Municipal Orchestra, and taught as professor for violin at the Shanghai National Conservatory of Music. After his return to Vienna in 1947, Adler reestablished his musical career, ultimately becoming concertmaster of Vienna’s State Opera orchestra, which was performing at Vienna’s Volksoper until the State Opera House could be reopened. Adler died from a heart attack during a rehearsal in 1952.

Ferdinand Adler Album

Collected reviews of his public performances (R), concert programs (CP), concert announcements (CA) & letters (L): Shanghai, 1939 – 1947

The Ferdinand Adler Album is part of  the archive of the Exilarte Center. The scans were kindly provided by Christina Adler (daughter of Ferdinand Adler).