A Biographical Dictionary of Fiddlers di A. Mason Clarke
Biographical Dictionary of Fiddlers. 1.09
of Baillot. His studies under that excellent master soon enabled him to take a front rank amongst his fellow students, and in 1804 he was awarded, after competition, the first prize for violin playing and became sub-professor of his master's class. On one occasion he performed a solo in the hearing of the Empress Josephine, who, delighted with his brilliant playing, granted him a pension of 1,200 francs. About the same time he was appointed one of the first violins at the Opera, a position he gained after competition. Shortly after this a vacancy occurred in the same theatre in the leadership of the second violins, this post Habeneck, after competition, failed to secure; a violinist named Choi was selected for the position, a person of mediocre ability, and in every way inferior to his young rival. This injustice was, however, soon repaired, for he was trusted with the post of first violin adjoint for the solos, and when Kreutzer took the direction of the orchestra, after the retirement of Persius, Habeneck succeeded him as first violin. In 1806 he became distinguished as a leader of concert orchestras, and the first recognition of his talents in this direction came from the Conservatoire. It had hitherto been the custom for the violinists who had obtained the first prize to direct, in turn, the concerts of that in-
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Dictionary Fiddlers Baillot Empress Josephine Opera Habeneck Choi Kreutzer Persius Habeneck Conservatoire About This
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