Zino Francescatti facts for kids
René-Charles "Zino" Francescatti (born August 9, 1902 – died September 17, 1991) was a famous French violin player. He was known as a virtuoso, which means he was incredibly skilled at playing his instrument. People loved his beautiful, singing style of playing.
A Musical Life
Zino Francescatti was born in Marseilles, France, into a family that loved music. Both his parents played the violin, and his father also played the cello. Zino started learning the violin when he was only three years old! Everyone quickly saw that he was a "child prodigy," meaning he had amazing talent at a very young age. He began performing for audiences when he was five. By the time he was 10, he made his official debut, playing a very important piece called Beethoven's Violin Concerto.
In 1925, Zino performed for the first time in Paris, playing a challenging piece by Niccolò Paganini. A few years later, in 1927, he started teaching at a famous music school called the École Normale de Musique. He also led an orchestra called the Concerts Poulets.
Zino went on his first world tour in 1931, sharing his music with people all over the globe. In 1939, he made his first appearance in America with the New York Philharmonic orchestra, playing the Paganini Violin Concerto again. After 1945, for about 30 years, he had a very successful career, traveling and performing internationally while living in both the United States and France.
Zino Francescatti was an incredibly talented violinist. He could play all the most famous and difficult violin concertos. His performances of pieces like Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and Saint-Saëns's Violin Concerto No. 3 are still highly praised today.
Zino made many popular recordings, including a set of all the Beethoven violin-piano sonatas with his friend and fellow musician, Robert Casadesus. For many years, both in concerts and on his recordings, Zino played on a very special violin called the "Hart" Stradivarius, made in 1727. He also helped edit classical music pieces for a company, making them available for other musicians to play.
When he retired in 1976, Zino sold his famous violin. He used the money to create the Zino Francescatti Foundation in La Ciotat, France. This foundation helps young violinists with their studies and careers. In 1987, a special international violin competition was held in his honor in Aix-en-Provence.
Zino Francescatti passed away in La Ciotat, France, in 1991, at the age of 89.
Selected Recordings
- Camille Saint-Saëns, Concerto No. 3, with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Pierre Boulez (recorded live in 1975).
- Camille Saint-Saëns, Concerto No. 3, with the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York, conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos (recorded in 1950).
- Camille Saint-Saëns, Introduction et Rondo Capricioso, Havanaise; Chausson, Poème, with The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Eugene Ormandy (recorded in 1950).
- Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 12 and Sonata in A minor, Op. 23 with Robert Casadesus on piano (recorded in 1961).
