Born 5 Sept. 1892; died 19 Feb. 1973

violinist

Education

Budapest. Pupil of Hubay

Career

made his debut at the age of 13 years; toured England several times with Busoni, McCormack, Melba, etc., between 1907 and 1914; from 1919 concertized on the Continent. Professor of the classe de virtuosité at the Geneva Conservatory, 1917–24; first American Tour, 1925–26; since then every season in USA in recital and as soloist with every major orchestra, and extensive tours in the Far East, Australia, NZ, South America, and South Africa, 1931–38; led Edinburgh Festival Quartet (Schnabel, Primrose, Fournier), 1947 and 1952; toured Japan, 1953, South America, 1954. Cross of Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur, 1930; Officer of Légion d’Honneur, 1939; Hungarian Order of Merit, 1931; Commander of Belgian Order of Leopold, 1937; has published several violin transcriptions of contemporary works, among others by Bela Bartok and Sir Edward Elgar (Serenade and Adieu; Elgar’s last completed compositions); also transcribed works by Peter Warlock, Scriabin, de Falla, Bach, Weber, Lie, Rameau, etc. Bach Seminar (the Six Solo Sonatas), Northwestern Univ., Evanston, Ill., 1955, Cycle of 20th Century Masterpieces (3 programmes) in Zürich, and USA, 1956–57. Hon. RAM London; Hon. Member, Guildhall School of Music. Film debut in Warner Bros film Hollywood Canteen

Publications

With Strings Attached (a volume of memoirs), (London), 1949; A Violinist’s Note Book (London), 1964; The Violin Sonatas of Beethoven (Illinois), 1965; Szigeti on the Violin, 1970

Address

Le Crépon, Baugy sur Clarens (Vaud), Switzerland