Editing William Primrose (section)

===Soloist===
Primrose made his debut as a violin soloist in 1923;<ref name="musical prodigies" /> however his soloist career playing the viola didn't take off until 1941 when he started touring with [[Richard Crooks]]. He accompanied Crooks on five tours in the next four years,<ref name="musical prodigies" /> playing in 32 concerts in 1941–1942. While touring with Crooks, [[Arthur Judson]], an influential concert manager, sought out Primrose. He signed with Judson who furthered Primrose's soloist career. Primrose doubled his concert performances, playing in 64 concerts in 1943&ndash;1944.<ref name="Dalton" />

In 1944, he was the soloist in the first studio recording of [[Berlioz]]'s ''[[Harold en Italie|Harold in Italy]]'' with the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]] and [[Serge Koussevitzky]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Reed |first1=Peter Hugh |date=1 April 1945 |title=Berlioz's ''Harold in Italy'' |journal= American Record Guide |volume=11 |issue=8 |publisher= Record Guide Publications |page=203}}</ref>That same year, he commissioned a [[Viola Concerto (Bartók)|viola concerto]] from [[Béla Bartók]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2 November 1949 |title=Viola Concerto |work= Dundee Evening Telegraph |page=2 }}</ref> This was left incomplete at Bartók's death in 1945, and had to wait four years for its completion by [[Tibor Serly]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2 Sep 1950 |title= The Bounty of Bartok  |work= Erdington News |page=4}}</ref>Primrose was the soloist in the world premiere performance of the concerto in America, on 2 December 1949, with the [[Minnesota Orchestra|Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra]] and [[Antal Doráti]] conducting.<ref>{{cite book |last=Halsey |first=Stevens |date=1975 |title= The life and music of Béla Bartók |publisher= London : Oxford University Press |page=335 |isbn= 9780709150619}}</ref>He gave the European premiere at the Edinburgh Festival in 1950 with Sir John Barbirolli and [[The Hallé]] orchestra.<ref>{{cite book |last=George |first=Bruce |date=1975 |title= Festival in the north : the story of the Edinburgh Festival |publisher=Hale, London |pages=38–40 |isbn= 9780709150619}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 Sep 1950 |title= His Last Work |work= Nottingham Journal |page=4}}</ref> In 1950, [[Benjamin Britten]] wrote for him ''Lachrymae'' based on [[Flow my Tears|the song by Dowland]].<ref name="all music">{{cite web|last1=Stevenson|first1=Joseph|title=Benjamin Britten: Lachrymae, reflections on a song of Dowland, for viola & piano, Op. 48|url=https://www.allmusic.com/composition/lachrymae-reflections-on-a-song-of-dowland-for-viola-piano-op-48-mc0002368840|website=All Music}}</ref>

Primrose was known for his tremendous technique. When he performed [[Paganini]]'s violin caprices on viola, [[Mischa Elman]] is said to have exclaimed, "It must be easier on viola!" Primrose wrote many transcriptions and arrangements for viola, often technically dazzling, including "La Campanella" (from Paganini's [[Violin Concerto No. 2 (Paganini)|second violin concerto]]) and the famous ''Nocturne'' from [[Borodin]]'s [[String Quartet No. 2 (Borodin)|second string quartet]], the latter "out of jealousy" for the cello's long melodic lines.

He was made a Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in 1952, in recognition of his musical contributions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 January 1952 |title=MANY FESTIVAL WORKERS IN THE NEW YEAR HONOURS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-william-primrose-clipping-1/143467111/ |access-date=18 March 2024 |work=The Guardian |pages=5}}</ref>