Sibelius, Jean. (1865–1957)
Signed Photograph from the Collection of Telmányi
Mounted halftone portrait of the composer in a pensive pose, signed boldly in ink "Jean Sibelius" on the mount below. Full sheet mounted to rigid backing, toned, staining along the lower edge not affecting the signature and overall very presentable. Provenance: from the descendants of the Hungarian violinist Emil Telmányi (1892-1988), to whom this was originally gifted from the composer. 7.4 x 10 inches [18.5 x 26 cm].In a letter (not included with the present photograph) dated December 18, 1945, the composer had written to Telmányi that "I am a keen admirer of your great art and am deeply pleased that you play my violin concerto, as in your interpretation it will get a perfect performance."
In 1911 Telmányi gave the Berlin premiere of the Violin Concerto of Sir Edward Elgar. The performance was attended by the pianist Ignaz Friedman, who befriended him and arranged some of his early concerts in Copenhagen, where he later settled. He became an exponent of the composer Carl Nielsen, having recorded some of his violin sonatas and his violin concerto and subsequently was married Nielsen's daughter, Anne Marie, from 1918 to 1933. One of his most famous recordings is a 1954 recording of Bach's Sonatas and partitas for solo violin played using a violin with what was referred to as the "Vega" Bach Bow (recorded in November 1953 and March 1954, DANA CORD, DACO 147), which could be adjusted so the player could play three or even all four strings of the violin at once.
(12443)Signed Photograph Classical Music