Arthur Grumiaux
Of the Franco-Belgian school, Arthur Grumiaux is considered to have been one of the few truly great violin virtuosi of the twentieth century. In his relatively short life his achievements were superb. He brought to performances guaranteed technical command, faithfulness to the composer's intent, and sensitivity toward the intricate delineations of musical structure. His fame was built upon extraordinary violin concerto performances and chamber-music appearances with his own Grumiaux Trio.
Grumiaux was born in Villers-Perwin, Belgium, in 1921, to a working-class family, and it was his grandfather who urged him to begin music studies at the age of 4. He trained on violin and piano with the Fernand Quintet at the Charleroi Conservatory, where he took first prize at the age of 11. The following year he advanced his studies by working with Alfred Dubois at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, and also worked on counterpoint and fugue with Jean Absil. He received his first few major awards prior to reaching the age of 20; he took the Henri Vieuxtemps and François Prume prizes in 1939, and received the Prix de Virtuosité from the Belgian government in 1940. During this time he also studied composition privately in Paris with the famous Romanian violinist Georges Enesco, Menuhin's teacher. His debuts were made in Belgium with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra playing Mendelssohn's concerto, and in Britain with the BBC Symphonic Orchestra in 1945. Due to the German invasion of his homeland, there existed a short time gap between these two important events. During that time he played privately with several small ensembles, while refraining from public performance of any kind. Regardless of this slight delay in the initiation of his international career, once started, it quickly developed. Following his British debut, he advanced into Belgium academia when he was appointed professor of violin at the Royal Conservatory, where he had once studied. There, he emphasized the importance of phrasing, the quality of sound, and the high technical standards of artistry.
Grumiaux's playing has been included on over 30 recordings, nearly all under Philips, although his name is also seen on the labels of EMI, Belart and Music & Arts. The titles on these releases tend to be the compositions of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and Schubert, and on occasion include works by Ravel and Debussy. One of his greatest joys in life was his partnership with the pianist Clara Haskil. On occasion, the two would switch instruments for a different perspective and relationship. Grumiaux was left with a professional and personal absence when she died from a fall at a train station, en route to a concert with him. In addition to his solo work, he has recorded Mozart quintets with the Grumiaux Ensemble, and various selections with the Grumiaux Trio, comprised of the Hungarian husband-wife duo Georges Janzer (violin) and Eva Czako (cello). His successful performance career led up to royal recognition, as in 1973, he was knighted baron by King Baudouin, for his services to music, thus, sharing the title with Paganini. Despite a struggle with diabetes, he continued a rigorous schedule of recording and concert performances, primarily in Western Europe, until a sudden stroke in Brussels took his life in 1986. At the age of 65, Grumiaux left behind the memory of his elegant and solid musicianship.
© TiVo
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Arthur Grumiaux - Historic Philips Recordings 1953-1962
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : The Violin Sonatas (Sonates pour violon), Vol.1 (Complete Mozart Edition)
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: The String Quintets (Complete Mozart Edition)
Arthur Grumiaux, Arpad Gérecz, Georges Janzer, Max Lesueur, Eva Czako
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Mar. 8, 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart : The Violin Sonatas (Sonates pour violon), Vol. 3 (Complete Mozart Edition)
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach, J.S.: Complete Violin Sonatas
Arthur Grumiaux, Christiane Jaccottet, Philippe Mermoud
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart : The Violin Sonatas Vol. 2 (Complete Mozart Edition)
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Fauré: Violin Sonata in E minor / Franck: Violin Sonata in A etc.
Arthur Grumiaux, Paul Crossley, György Sebök
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach, J.S.: Violin Concertos
Arthur Grumiaux, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Edo de Waart
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on Jan. 1, 1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven & Mozart: String Trios (Recital, 8 June 1966)
Grumiaux Trio, Arthur Grumiaux, Georges Janzer
Chamber Music - Released by SWR Classic on May 5, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Arthur Grumiaux Plays Bach
Arthur Grumiaux, Johann Sebastian Bach
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Violin Spectacular
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Berg: Violin Concerto; Brahms: Tragic Overture; Alto Rhapsody; Kodály: Psalmus Hungaricus
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16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach's Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin: Arthur Grumiaux
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16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven, Brahms, Stravinsky & Debussy: Works for Violin & Piano (Live)
Chamber Music - Released by Orfeo on Jul. 20, 2018
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Beethoven: Violin Concerto; 2 Romances
Arthur Grumiaux, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Edo de Waart
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elisabeth Grümmer Sings Mozart, Schubert, Brahms & Wolf
Elisabeth Grümmer, Arthur Grumiaux, Hugo Diez, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Karl Münchinger
Classical - Released by SWR Classic on Jan. 1, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Duet for Violin & Cello, Hob. VI:D1 - Ravel: Sonata for Violin & Cello, M. 73
Arthur Grumiaux, Hermann von Beckerath
Chamber Music - Released by SWR Mediaservices GmbH on Nov. 9, 2018
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Beethoven: Complete Concertos Vol.1 - Piano Concertos Nos.1 - 4 etc.
Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis, Arthur Grumiaux, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1994
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Clara Haskil & Arthur Grumiaux: Besancon Festival Recital (1957) (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Ludwig van Beethoven)
Classical - Released by Music and Arts Programs of America on Nov. 1, 2011
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Corelli: 12 Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord
Arthur Grumiaux, Riccardo Castagnone
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert, Sonatas for Vioin and Piano
Arthur Grumiaux, Riccardo Castagnone
Classical - Released by Blue Pie Records USA on Jan. 1, 2021
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