Victor (or Viktor) Polatschek was born January 29, 1889 in Chotzen, Bohemia (or in Czech, Choceň) in what is today the Czech Republic.  Polatschek studied clarinet at the Vienna State Academy 68.  Victor Polatschek taught at the Vienna Conservatory and played at the Vienna State Opera.  He was consequently also clarinetist in the Vienna Philharmonic 1912-1930 69.  As such, he of course played in both the Vienna Opera and in the Philharmonic.  Polatschek was also active in his teaching of clarinet at the Vienna Conservatory, which caused him to compose works for clarinet which also have a pedagogical function 113.  Notable are his etudes based on themes from famous works, including of Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire !  Victor Polatschek emigrated to the U.S. to join the Boston Symphony under Koussevitzky.  Victor Polatschek was Principal clarinet from 1930 until his early death.  Victor Polatschek died suddenly in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, ten minutes from Tanglewood, during the Tanglewood Festival on July 17, 1948, age only 60.