Violinist Bronislaw Huberman Died in 1947

He is known as a founder of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, which he did during Hitler's rise to power

Jewish-Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman died on this day in 1947, aged 64.

A student of Joseph Joachim, he is remembered as one of the eminent violin virtuosi of the first half of the 20th century.

Huberman was a child prodigy known for his daring and virtuosic playing. When he was a young teenager, Huberman played the Brahms violin concerto for the composer himself. Brahms' biographer Max Kallbeck wrote of the performance that when "Brahms heard the sound of the violin, he pricked up his ears, during the Andante he wiped his eyes, and after the Finale, he went into the green room, embraced the young fellow, and stroked his cheeks."

Huberman died in Switzerland, with his cause of death listed simply as "exhaustion."

His "Gibson ex-Huberman" Stradivarius — which was twice stolen from him, in 1919 and 1936 — is today owned and played by American virtuoso Joshua Bell.

BRONISLAW HUBERMAN | CHOPIN | NOCTURNE OP. 9 NO. 2