Musician. Born in Lublin, Poland, he was recognized as a violin prodigy and at age eight was sent to study at the Paris Conservatory. He published his first compositions when he was 12 and was touring extensively as a violinist at 13. From 1860 to 1872 he lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he combined recitals and teaching with a position as director of the Russian Music Society. In 1872 Wieniawski toured the United States with pianist Anton Rubinstein, and in 1875 he replaced Henri Vieuxtemps as violin professor at the Brussels Conservatory. Wieniawski's later years were plagued by heart disease, aggravated by obesity and workaholic habits. His health grew so precarious that he often had to play recitals sitting in an armchair, but he refused to slow down. Urged by his physicians to retire from performing, he embarked on a "farewell" concert tour of Russia in April 1879. He was still at it 11 months later, when he died of a heart attack at 44 in Moscow. Most of Wieniawski's music was written for himself to play, and a lot of it has fallen by the historical wayside. But his two violin concertos, in F Sharp Minor (1853) and D Minor (1870) are repertory warhorses which would not be relinquished by virtuosos without a struggle. The International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition has been held in Poznan, Poland, every five years since 1952. He has been honored with postage stamps and in 1979 a 100 Zloty coin bearing his image was issued to mark the centenary of his death.
Musician. Born in Lublin, Poland, he was recognized as a violin prodigy and at age eight was sent to study at the Paris Conservatory. He published his first compositions when he was 12 and was touring extensively as a violinist at 13. From 1860 to 1872 he lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he combined recitals and teaching with a position as director of the Russian Music Society. In 1872 Wieniawski toured the United States with pianist Anton Rubinstein, and in 1875 he replaced Henri Vieuxtemps as violin professor at the Brussels Conservatory. Wieniawski's later years were plagued by heart disease, aggravated by obesity and workaholic habits. His health grew so precarious that he often had to play recitals sitting in an armchair, but he refused to slow down. Urged by his physicians to retire from performing, he embarked on a "farewell" concert tour of Russia in April 1879. He was still at it 11 months later, when he died of a heart attack at 44 in Moscow. Most of Wieniawski's music was written for himself to play, and a lot of it has fallen by the historical wayside. But his two violin concertos, in F Sharp Minor (1853) and D Minor (1870) are repertory warhorses which would not be relinquished by virtuosos without a struggle. The International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition has been held in Poznan, Poland, every five years since 1952. He has been honored with postage stamps and in 1979 a 100 Zloty coin bearing his image was issued to mark the centenary of his death.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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