Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

Poland

Birth

:

September 22, 1918 in Zelazowa Wola, Poland

Death

:

March 8, 1988 in Kassel, Germany

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Henryk Szeryng was a renowned classical music artist who was born on September 22, 1918, in Zelazowa Wola, Poland. He was the son of a physician and a pianist, and his family was musically inclined. Szeryng began playing the violin at the age of five, and by the time he was seven, he was already performing in public. Szeryng's family moved to Mexico when he was a teenager, and he continued his musical studies there. He studied with Carlos Chávez, the renowned Mexican composer, and also with the famous violinist, Bronislaw Huberman. Szeryng's talent was evident from an early age, and he quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso violinist. In 1937, Szeryng made his debut as a soloist with the Mexico City Symphony Orchestra, and he quickly became one of the most sought-after violinists in the world. He performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. Szeryng was known for his impeccable technique and his ability to convey emotion through his playing. He was particularly renowned for his interpretations of the works of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. He was also a champion of contemporary music, and he premiered many works by modern composers. One of Szeryng's most memorable performances was his 1959 performance of Bach's solo violin works at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The performance was recorded and released as an album, and it is still considered one of the definitive recordings of Bach's solo violin works. Szeryng was also a prolific recording artist, and he recorded many of the great works of the violin repertoire. His recordings of the Beethoven and Brahms violin concertos are particularly renowned. In addition to his performing career, Szeryng was also a respected teacher. He taught at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève in Switzerland and at the University of Montreal in Canada. Many of his students went on to have successful careers as violinists. Szeryng received many awards and honors throughout his career. He was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1958, and he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1973. He was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1980. Szeryng continued to perform and record well into his seventies. He died on March 3, 1988, in Kassel, Germany, while on tour. He was widely mourned by the classical music world, and his legacy as one of the greatest violinists of the twentieth century lives on.

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