Word: ysa
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...viola that was around the house. His father, who was himself a disappointed viola player, strongly objected, set little William to practicing the violin instead. But William never forgot the charms of the forbidden viola. Years later, in Brussels, when his teacher, the late great violinist and tosspot Eugene YsaŸe, told William he had special aptitude for the viola, he switched to it for life. In 1937, when NBC officials were recruiting their new NBC Symphony, they heard a phonograph record of Violist Primrose playing a Paganini caprice. Never had they heard or heard tell of such fast...
Seven years ago last month, Eug;ne Ysaÿe, greatest violinist of his generation, died at his home in Brussels. Before he died, Violinist Ysaÿe had expressed a wish that his name be kept green by establishing a memorial competition for young virtuosos...
Last year, conforming to this wish, a group of Belgian musicians, led by Ysaÿe's lifelong friend and former pupil, Queen Mother Elisabeth of Belgium, founded the Concours International Eugene Ysaÿe. To Brussels, with fiddle cases under their arms, flocked contestants from 26 nations, eager to try for the bantamweight violin championship of the world. To the surprise of all, the lion's share of honors went to five young Soviet Russians...
Last month, in the presence of King Leopold III, a solemn ceremony at the Brussels Conservatoire Royal de Musique inaugurated the second Concours Ysaÿe. This time not violinists but pianists were to vie for honors.*From 22 nations came nearly 100 eager candidates, aged 15 to 30, chosen in most cases by national competition. Largest contingents were from England (13), Germany (12), Italy (12), France (n). Australia, China and Uruguay each sent one. The U. S. was meagrely represented by three pianists who happened to be in Europe. Only U. S. entry with any reputation...
Goal of each candidate was the Grand Prix International Eugène Ysaÿe, with a check from Queen Elisabeth for 50.000 Belgian francs ($1,695). Second prize: 25,000 francs, presented by the Belgian Minister of Education; ten smaller prizes ranging from 20,000 to 4,000 francs, presented by the Eugene Ysaÿe Fund. Judges of the contest, named by Belgium's Queen Elisabeth Musical Foundation, included eight world-famous pianists...