Joachim, Joseph (1831-1907)

Hungarian-born German violinist, composer, and conductor. He visited England every year from 1862, and in 1877 conducted the first British performance of Brahms's first symphony; he took part in the first performance of the Double Concerto in 1887. He was the dedicatee of Dvořák's concerto, but refused to play it.

He made his first appearance at the age of seven. He studied at the Vienna Conservatory, Austria, and in Leipzig, Germany, where he came under the influence of Mendelssohn and played under him at the Gewandhaus concerts in 1843. In the following year he played Beethoven's violin concerto in London. He was leader of the orchestra at Weimar 1849-53 and at Hanover 1853-68. In 1868 he was appointed director of the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. He founded the Joachim quartet in 1869.

Works overtures for orchestra to Shakespeare's Hamlet and Henry IV, in commemoration of Kleist and on two comedies by Gozzi; three violin concertos (including ‘Hungarian’), variations for violin and orchestra.