Romanian Violinist Eugène Sarbu has Died, Aged 73

Sarbu’s international career was launched when he won a series of gold medals in multiple top music competitions

Born in 1950, Eugène Sarbu was a Romanian-born classical violinist and also held a decades-long career as a recitalist and conductor. He achieved international acclaim from a young age when he won the gold medals of almost every major music competition in Europe and North America. 

In 1978, he won the First Prize and audience prize at London’s Carl Flesh International Competition, and two months later, was awarded First Prize in Italy’s Paganini International Competition. He was also the winner of the Rockefeller Prize for Music in the U.S.

Sarbu began learning the violin at the age of five from his father, and made his solo debut at the age of six. He later studied at the Music School in his hometown of Galați, Romania, and in Bucharest and Paris with G. Avakian, I. Geanta, and Robert Soëtens.

At the recommendation of Yehudi Menuhin, Sarbu received a scholarship from the Curtis Institute of Music to study with Ivan Galamian, who he continued to learn with at The Juilliard School for his Master of Music degree. Sarbu was also mentored by Nathan Milstein in London and Zurich.

Sarbu performed with all the major British orchestras and those of New York, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Dallas, Vienna, Hamburg, Munich, Bamberg, Milan, Naples, Geneva, Helsinki, Amsterdam, Gothenburg, Brussels, Barcelona, Sydney, Melbourne, New Zealand, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Santiago de Chile. 

In 1999, he opened the new season at Carnegie Hall playing the Brahms Violin Concerto with the American Symphony Orchestra to a standing ovation.

He also gave recitals with his sister, the distinguished pianist Carmina Sarbu, in concert halls and at festivals worldwide, plus premiered works from living composers including Einojuhani Rautavaara, and recorded the works of Sibelius and Mozart.

Towards Romania’s desire for freedom and democracy in 1989, Sarbu also helped initiate a world campaign to support his country by giving numerous benefit concerts around the world. 

In 1994, he gave a historic performance at New York’s Metropolitan Museum playing on Paganini’s violin (the 1743 “Il Cannone” Guarneri “del Gesù”), and in 1995, he received the George Enescu Medal. 

In 1997, he and his sister were invited by HRH Prince Charles at St. James’ Palace; that same year, Sarbu was awarded an honorary doctorate from the National University of Music in Bucharest, plus was appointed the Honorary Director of the Romanian National Radio Orchestra.

Mr. Sarbu lived in London and performed on a 1729 Stradivarius violin made in Cremona, Italy. Our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

SAINT-SAËNS | INTRODUCTION AND RONDO CAPRICCIOSO | EUGÈNE SARBU | 2014