The Queen Elisabeth Music Competition, a founding member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (1957) has been, since its foundation, considered the world over to be one of the most prestigious and most difficult in existence. It is devoted to violin (since 1951), piano (since 1952), to composition (since 1953) and to singing (since 1988). It is named after Queen Elisabeth of Belgium.
Eugène Ysaÿe, Belgian concert-violinist,...
more
The Queen Elisabeth Music Competition, a founding member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (1957) has been, since its foundation, considered the world over to be one of the most prestigious and most difficult in existence. It is devoted to violin (since 1951), piano (since 1952), to composition (since 1953) and to singing (since 1988). It is named after Queen Elisabeth of Belgium.
Eugène Ysaÿe, Belgian concert-violinist, had wanted to set up an international music competition for young virtuosi showcasing their all-round skill, but died before he could do so. Queen Elisabeth, patroness of the arts and good friend of Ysaÿe, set up the competition in his memory in 1937. The prestige of Ysaÿe and Belgium's Royal Court (King Albert and Queen Elisabeth were admired heroes of the First World War) assured that the first competition would draw great entrants.
The Soviet school was the resounding winner in 1937: the great David Oistrakh won first prize without the...
less
