Szigeti, Joseph. (1892–1973)

Interesting Signed Photograph with Two Autograph Inscriptions

An especially interesting signed photograph of the great Hungarian-born American violinist.  Image size 138 x 90 mm.; overall size 230 x 150 mm. 

With autograph inscriptions in black ink, in Hungarian, one to lower margin of photograph: "To Dr. Lipót Sebestyén in remembrance of our seeing each other again (1909-1928!)" and the other to lower margin of mount: "To András Sebestyén in remembrance of our conversation on the old days in October 1963 Joseph Szigeti."

Mount slightly worn and browned; small tear to upper margin and stains to lower; remnants of brown paper to verso. 

According to the Hungarian Jewish Encyclopedia (Magyar Zsidó Lexikon, ed. Péter Újvári, 1929), there was a municipal prefect named Lipót Sebestyén in the city of Lugos in 1928.

"[Szigeti] became a pupil of Jen Hubay at the Budapest Academy... After his London début in 1907, [he] remained in Britain until 1913... Szigeti settled in the USA in 1940 and became a citizen in 1951... He played contemporary music with enormous conviction and persuaded concert managers and recording companies to accept a repertory that stressed contemporary works." Boris Schwarz in Grove Music Online. (13758)