Violinist & Composer Pablo de Sarasate Was Born On This Day in 1844

Spanish violin virtuoso and composer Pablo de Sarasate was born on this day in 1844

Spanish violin virtuoso and composer Pablo de Sarasate was born on this day in 1844.

Sarasate, the son of a local military bandmaster, commenced violin lessons at the age of five and immediately exhibited extraordinary musical prowess. His concert debut was at the age of eight, following which, he relocated to Madrid to study under violinist Manuel Rodriguez Sáez.

Sarasate captivated audiences at the court of the Spanish Queen Isabel II with his extraordinary talent and at twelve, he relocated to Paris to pursue studies at the Paris Conservatoire under the tutelage of a Jean-Delphin Alard. He continued to make rapid progress. Spaniards applauded Sarasate's renown, and a grant from the Spanish Queen Isabella aided his studies. In 1857 he won the Conservatory's first prize in violin—an honor that placed him already in the top ranks of Spanish violinists.

Commencing in 1859, he embarked on a world tour that persisted, more or less continuously, for three decades, performing in Europe, North America, and South America.

Sarasate died in Biarritz, France, on September 20, 1908, from chronic bronchitis. He bequeathed his 1724 Antonio Stradivari violin to the Musée de la Musique. The violin now bears his name as the Sarasate Stradivarius in his memory.

Remembered as one of the most celebrated virtuosi of the 19th Century, he premiered a number of violin repertoire cornerstones, including: Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole, Saint-Saens' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and 3rd Violin Concerto, Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, Wieniawski's 2nd Violin Concerto – and a large body of his own bravura works, including: Carmen Fantasy, Zigeunerweisen, Zapateado, Introduction et Tarantella, Malagueña y Habanera and Romanza Andaluza.

VC ARTIST AUGUSTIN HADELICH & ORION WEISS | SARASATE | ROMANZA ANDALUZA | 2021