Rare autograph signature of the brilliant French violinist at age 19 (5 April, 1938), on the same autograph album sheet as her teacher, legendary violinist and composer George Enescu, who has signed two years earlier, 1936. Originally obtained by the mother of Antares Parvulescu, a student of Enesco in Paris who later pursued a career in the sciences in the US. Left edge rough, else fine. 2.7 x 3.1 inches; 6.5 x 8 cm.
The death of Ginette Neveu was one of the great tragedies in violin history. The French violinist was 30, and a still-rising star, when the Air France flight on which she was traveling crashed into a mountain in the Azores archipelago. Upon her death, the music world responded with grief-stricken testimonials. Conductor Charles Münch apostrophized: “…each time that by the grace of God we are able to make music really well, we shall feel you very close to us.” Conductor Eugene Ormandy called her the “greatest woman violinist—and I’ll go so far as to say, one of the greatest interpreters on the violin of our time.” To Pablo Casals, “Her playing was one of the greatest revelations, both instrumental and musical. To the impression of perfection, balance, and artistic taste, she added in her interpretation, fire, and abandon which filled her playing with richness.”
Neveu showed her greatness early. Born in Paris in 1919, she studied first with her violinist mother, and by seven had performed both the Bruch and Mendelssohn concerti. Following further lessons with George Enescu, she entered the Paris Conservatoire, where after studying violin with Jules Boucherit and composition with Nadia Boulanger, she earned a premier prix at age eleven. Next, she was recruited by Carl Flesch, who wished to teach her for free, declaring, “My child, you have received a gift from heaven, and I have no wish to touch it. All I can do for you is to give you some purely technical advice.”
Rare autograph signature of the brilliant French violinist at age 19 (5 April, 1938), on the same autograph album sheet as her teacher, legendary violinist and composer George Enescu, who has signed two years earlier, 1936. Originally obtained by the mother of Antares Parvulescu, a student of Enesco in Paris who later pursued a career in the sciences in the US. Left edge rough, else fine. 2.7 x 3.1 inches; 6.5 x 8 cm.
The death of Ginette Neveu was one of the great tragedies in violin history. The French violinist was 30, and a still-rising star, when the Air France flight on which she was traveling crashed into a mountain in the Azores archipelago. Upon her death, the music world responded with grief-stricken testimonials. Conductor Charles Münch apostrophized: “…each time that by the grace of God we are able to make music really well, we shall feel you very close to us.” Conductor Eugene Ormandy called her the “greatest woman violinist—and I’ll go so far as to say, one of the greatest interpreters on the violin of our time.” To Pablo Casals, “Her playing was one of the greatest revelations, both instrumental and musical. To the impression of perfection, balance, and artistic taste, she added in her interpretation, fire, and abandon which filled her playing with richness.”
Neveu showed her greatness early. Born in Paris in 1919, she studied first with her violinist mother, and by seven had performed both the Bruch and Mendelssohn concerti. Following further lessons with George Enescu, she entered the Paris Conservatoire, where after studying violin with Jules Boucherit and composition with Nadia Boulanger, she earned a premier prix at age eleven. Next, she was recruited by Carl Flesch, who wished to teach her for free, declaring, “My child, you have received a gift from heaven, and I have no wish to touch it. All I can do for you is to give you some purely technical advice.”