Born on February 4, 1901, in Berlin, the violinist joined the first violins of the Berlin State Opera orchestra in 1925. Because he was on list of Jews compiled by the Nazi factory cell at the opera, he was forced into early retirement in June of 1933. Krips decided to flee: from Cherbourg he traveled aboard the SS Bremen to New York, where he arrived on January 19, 1934. Shortly thereafter, he settled in Brookline, a suburb of Boston. On September 19, 1937, he married Helen Wallace, who was born there in 1911 to a family of Jewish–Russian émigrés.
Alfred Krips was able to resume his musical career and obtained a position as a violinist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, eventually rising to the rank of second concertmaster. Until 1970, he gave countless performances as a soloist not only with this ensemble but also with the Boston Pops Orchestra, while also working as a music teacher. Alfred Krips died on September 9, 1979, in Brookline.
1901 Berlin
1979 Brookline, Massachusetts