Henryk Wieniawski occupies a special place in the history of violin-playing. Second, as a composer whose works have stood the test of time and have featured prominently in the literature of the violin and in the repertoire of many leading violinists. Finally as an exciting and flamboyant personality. Henryk Wieniawski was born in Lublin 1 on 10 July into a family who combined an interest in social welfare with a passion for music. She had studied the piano in Paris and subsequently brought her musical interests into the home.
Music became an integral part of the upbringing of the Wieniawski children, who went on to make a fine contribution to Polish culture. Although a promising singer, Aleksander chose instead to follow a career in the civil service. The three youngest of the Wieniawski children — Adam , Kajetan and Konrad — died in their first year. The Wieniawski home was steeped in piano music, particularly the music of Chopin, yet Henryk chose not to become a pianist like his mother.
When he was five, Henryk was initiated into the secrets of the violin by Jan Hornziel , who was an experienced musician and teacher and a former pupil of Louis Spohr. Henryk made amazing progress on the violin and gave his first solo public appearance at the age of seven. His career now necessitated systematic study but this was impossible in Poland at that time as the country was torn apart by the Partitions. It is no accident that the leading exponents of Polish culture found themselves in exile, primarily in France.
He was only eleven years old, in his third year of study, and theoretically still ineligible to begin his Paris studies. Henryk remained a further two years in Paris perfecting his violin technique with Professor Massart. She rented a small appartment and created a homely environment for the two boys. Meanwhile, Henryk set about making his name as a concert-violinist.
The majority of these pieces are lost and some are known only from concert reviews and fragmentary notes in dedications. These are the Grand caprice fantastique op. Viotti nos. Kreutzer no. Escorted by his mother, he set off on his first foreign concert tour. Henryk was a subject and scholarship-holder of the Tsar of Russia 7 and it was now time to show some proof of his achievements.
