Violinist Philippe Hirschhorn Died in 1996, Aged 50

He is remembered as one of the most naturally gifted violinists of all time

Latvian-born violin virtuoso Philippe Hirschhorn died on this day in 1996, from a brain tumor, aged just 50.

Hirschhorn was based mainly in Belgium but played concerts all over the world. He performed with some of the greatest conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Jesús López-Cobos, Frübeck de Burgos, Lawrence Foster, and Ferdinand Leitner. He played chamber music with esteemed colleagues and friends like Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, David Geringas, and Elisabeth Leonskaya.

He also won First Prize at the International Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in 1967, Recordings of Hirschhorn's playing are far and few, but the existing ones speak for themselves.

His famed students included Janine Jansen, Philippe Graffin, Evert Sillem, and Yoris Jarzynski.

"The most unbelievable musician I ever met.... He possessed mystucal hypnotic power"- Mischa Maisky. 

PHILIPPE HIRSCHHORN | PAGANINI | VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 OP. 6 SAURET CADENZA | 1967