OBITUARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 112, 14 May 1931, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR EUGENE YSAYE VIOLINIST AND CONDUCTOR LONDON, May 12. The death is announced of M. Eugene Ysaye, the famous Belgian violinist and conductor, in his 73rd year. The late Al. Eugene Ysaye was born at Liege in July, 1858. He received bis first music lessons from bis father and appeared in public at the age of six. Entering the Liege Conservatoire, be studied the violin with Massart and harmony with Dupuis. He continued his training under Wieniawski and obtained a Government subsidy through the influence of \ ieuxtemps, who thought very highly of him. Ju 1879 he played at concerts in Cologne and Aix-la-Chapelle, and in 1881 became concertmaster of Bisle’s Orchestra in Berlin. In the following year he began to tour and often appeared with Anton Rubinstein. lu 1883 Al. Ysaye settled in Paris, where be enjoyed the friendship of Cesar Franck and Vincent D’lndy, but* returned to Brussels in 1886 as first violin professor at the conserve toire. The spring quartette which he started in 1888 with Ida rehot, Van Hout and J. Jacob soon achieved great renown. In 1894 he founded an orchestra with the itile of the “Societe des Concerts Ysaye.” He resigned his yrofessorship at the conservatoire in 1897, retaining only the leadership of the orchestra. In 1896 he declined the conductorship of the New York Philharmonic Society. He had made many tours in Britain, on the Continent and in the United States, attaining great popularity, and often appeared with the famous pianist Busoui. Ysaye was noted for his unusual verve of expression and his brilliant technique. In 1913 he was appointed musical director to the Belgian Court. After the outbreak of the war he went to America, vsherc he obtained the post of conductor at Cincinatti and held it till 1921, when he returned to Brussels. M. Ysaye’s compositions include six violin concertos, variations on a theme by Paganini, and a number of smaller violin pieces, including the “Poeme Elegaicquc.” He was a Chevailer of the Legion of Honour and had received many other decorations.