Violinist & Composer Eugène Ysaÿe was born on this day in 1858

The Belgian violin virtuoso, composer, and celebrated pedagogue was a master of the Franco-Belgian school of violin playing

Eugène Ysaÿe was a child prodigy who studied with Henri Vieuxtemps and later became a master of the Franco-Belgian school of violin playing. The latter was known for its elegant, polished sound and bow technique that involved a flexible right wrist, a bent fifth finger, and middle fingers draped around the stick. In 1901, Ysaÿe was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Gold Medal.

He was also a highly proficient violist, cellist, and pianist; the legendary pedagogue Carl Flesch once described him as "the most outstanding and individual violinist I have ever heard in my life."

As a composer, Ysaÿe is remembered well for his virtuosic Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op. 27, unaccompanied Sonata for Cello, Op. 28, and eight Poèmes for various string ensembles.

From 1886 to 1897 he was professor of violin at the Brussels Conservatory, and in 1894, he began in Brussels a series of orchestral concerts that introduced new music. From 1918 to 1922, he served as the music director of the Cincinnati Symphony.

Ysaÿe’s famed students included virtuosi Josef Gingold, Nathan Milstein, William Primrose, Louis Persinger, Jascha Brodsky, and Oscar Shumsky.

TESSA LARK | EUGÈNE YSAŸE  | SOLO VIOLIN SONATA NO. 4