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Recording reviewed: Gramophone, October 1946
This was Grumiaux's second outing to the studios of EMI - as the review states, Pougnet was already well known. We do not believe it has been reissued since. Note the short duration of this work makes for a short CD, but a reduced-price download. We recommend the latter over the former, but are of course happy to supply this recording on disc at our usual price. Notes on the restoration: The 78s from which this recording was remastered were pressed in Holland and found their way ultimately to the United States, from where collector and music lover Nicolas Hawtrey bought them and kindly presented them to Pristine Audio for restoration and release. Although there was some slight swish toward the end of two of the sides, and a marginal hint of edgy peak distortion, they have responded excellently to the Pristine Audio XR treatment, and the remastered recording is a real delight to hear.
Arthur Grumiaux
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Youth Grumiaux was born in Villers-Perwin, Belgium to a working-class family, and it was his grandfather who urged him to begin music studies at the age of only 4. He trained on violin and piano with the Fernand Quintet at the Charleroi Conservatory, where he took first prize at the age of 11. The following year he advanced his studies by working with Alfred Dubois at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, and also worked on counterpoint and fugue with Jean Absil. He received his first few major awards prior to reaching the age of 20; he took the Henry Vieuxtemps and François Prume prizes in 1939, and received the Prix de Virtuosité from the Belgian government in 1940. During this time he also studied composition privately in Paris with the famous Romanian violinist Georges Enesco, Menuhin's teacher.
Career His debuts were made in Belgium with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra playing Mendelssohn's concerto, and in Britain with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1945. Due to the German invasion of his homeland, there existed a short time gap between these two important events. During that time he played privately with several small ensembles, while refraining from public performance of any kind. Regardless of this slight delay in the initiation of his international career, once started, it quickly developed. Following his British debut, he advanced into Belgium academia when he was appointed professor of violin at the Royal Conservatory, where he had once studied. There, he emphasized the importance of phrasing, the quality of sound, and the high technical standards of artistry. One of his greatest joys in life was his partnership with the pianist Clara Haskil. On occasion, the two would switch instruments for a different perspective and relationship. Grumiaux was left with a professional and personal loss when she died from a fall at a train station, en route to a concert with him.
Recordings Grumiaux's playing was included on over 30 recordings, nearly all under Philips, although his name is also seen on the labels of EMI, Belart and Music & Arts. The titles on these releases tend to be the compositions of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and Schubert, and on occasion include works by Ravel and Debussy. In addition to his solo work, he recorded Mozart quintets with the Grumiaux Ensemble, and various selections with the Grumiaux Trio, which consisted of Grumiaux and the Hungarian husband-wife duo Georges Janzer (viola) and Eva Czako (cello).
Honors Grumiaux's successful performance career led up to royal recognition, and in 1973 he was knighted baron by King Baudouin for his services to music, thus sharing the title with Paganini.
His violin His instrument was the "Rose" Guarneri del Gesu of 1744.
Death Despite a struggle with diabetes, Grumiaux continued a rigorous schedule of recording and concert performances, primarily in Western Europe, until a sudden stroke in Brussels took his life in 1986 at the age of 65. Arthur Grumiaux left behind the memory of his elegant and solid musicianship.
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