Hungarian Violinist and Composer Franz von Vecsey was Born in 1893

A protégé of Jenő Hubay and Leopold Auer, Franz von Vecsey was also the dedicatee of the Sibelius violin concerto

March 23 marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of the Hungarian violin virtuoso and composer Franz von Vecsey.

Born in Budapest, Vecsey first began learning the violin from his father. However, his prodigious talent was soon recognized with a place in the studio of the prominent Hungarian violinist and teacher Jenő Hubay. During this time, he caught the attention of both Joseph Joachim and Eugène Ysaÿe, and he made his solo debut in Berlin — with Joachim conducting — at the age of 10.

Hereafter von Vecsey established a firm reputation as a child prodigy. Ysaÿe characterized him as "so small and yet so great," adding "I desire for you the triumph of the artist, complete and full."

Von Vecsey then went to St Petersburg to study in the class of Leopold Auer, where he began a friendly rivalry with the young Mischa Elman. However, Elman eventually had a more prominent career, as von Vecsey's career suffered a significant decline as a result of the trauma he sustained while serving in the First World War. Von Vecsey sadly died in 1935, aged just 42, from a pulmonary embolism.

Von Vecsey's legacy includes a significant discography from the early days of recording. In addition, he is closely associated with the Sibelius violin concerto, and he became the work's dedicatee after Willi Burmester had to withdraw from giving the work's premiere.