The Polish Parliament has adopted a resolution on the 175th anniversary of the birth of the great composer and violinist, Henryk Wieniawski, which falls tomorrow. It describes him as one of the finest virtuosos of the second half of the 19th century.
Henryk Wieniawski lived a fast and intense life. At the age of eight, he was admitted to the Paris Conservatory, a notable exception to the general rules which put the minimum age of admission at twelve. He was twelve when he completed the course, winning the gold medal with distinction.
Wieniawski's penchant for taking risks helped him to tackle fearlessly the formidable technical difficulties and introduce innovations which befitted a musician of outstanding genius. ‘It’s necessary to take a risk’ was the motto inscribed on his manuscripts in sections fraught with special difficulties as a way of mobilizing himself to more intensive creative effort.
Henryk Wieniawski performed in the most prestigious concert venues in Europe, provoking admiration and enthusiasm. After a twelve-year-long stint as court violinist to Tsar Alexander II, interrupted by numerous concerts in Europe and Russia, he went on a two-year-long tour of the United States, which confirmed his fame and reputation.
His compositional output includes two violin concertos and numerous pieces employing the motifs of Polish dances, the polonaise and the kujawiak.
He died in 1880 at the age of 45. The Wieniawski International Violin Competition is held in Poznań every five years. (mk)
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