Wonder what musical secrets this wall holds? This is the Lionel Tertis Blue plaque. It marks the Wimbledon home of a man who rescued an instrument. That instrument was the viola.
Lionel Tertis lived in a flat here from 1961 to 1975. The plaque says “Lionel Tertis 1876-1975, viola soloist, lived in a flat here.” English Heritage put it up in 2015. This blue plaque honors a musician. It specifically recognizes his impact on music history.
Tertis transformed the viola’s status. Before him, it was the orchestra’s Cinderella. It was often a refuge for struggling violinists. Lionel Tertis changed that perception. He made it his mission to elevate the viola.
Born to Polish-Jewish immigrants, Tertis grew up in London’s East End. He described it as a place of intensity and squalor. He left home at 13 and became an itinerant pianist. Later, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He picked up the viola to fill a spot in a string quartet. He loved the instrument’s sound from the start. Tertis taught himself because there were no viola teachers.
By 1900, the Royal Academy made him Professor of Viola. He played with famous musicians. Artur Rubenstein called Tertis “the greatest glory in England”. His playing was known for beauty and passion. Composers wrote pieces for him. Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst were among them. Tertis also arranged music for the viola. He adapted Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.
In 1924, Tertis bought a large Montagnana viola in Paris. It became his favorite instrument. It had a rich tone and was used for his recordings.
Rheumatism forced Tertis to retire in 1937. But he kept promoting the viola. He developed the “Tertis model” viola. It was designed for better sound and easier playing.
In 1961, Tertis and his wife moved to this flat in Wimbledon. He remained active even in his eighties and nineties. He attended concerts and promoted his viola design. He even gave a final performance in 1964.
Tertis died in this flat in 1975. His obituary celebrated his work. It said he brought full solo status to the viola.
Margaret Lyons knew Tertis’s widow. She ensured his memory was preserved. John Gilhooly called Tertis one of the greatest instrumentalists of his age.
So next time you hear a viola, remember Lionel Tertis. He freed the instrument from its humdrum past. He made it sing and resonate. This Lionel Tertis Blue plaque stands as a reminder. It honors a musician who changed music forever.