Important Album—Behind the Scenes of the 1955 Queen Elisabet - Lot 128

Lot n° 128
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800 - 1200 EUR
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Important Album—Behind the Scenes of the 1955 Queen Elisabet - Lot 128
Important Album—Behind the Scenes of the 1955 Queen Elisabeth Competition (Haine Brothers) An exceptional collection consisting of a vintage photo album containing 34 pages of silver gelatin prints, documenting the violin round of the 1955 Queen Elisabeth Competition, held in Brussels in the spirit of the legacy of the great violinist Eugène Ysaÿe. The album, which is in particularly fine condition, is embossed with the monogram of Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, indicating that it was produced for official or ceremonial purposes. It offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the competition: jury sessions in a packed hall, the contestants’ performances, instrument preparation, moments of waiting, and informal scenes—rarely documented with such intimacy. The inclusion of a photograph of the president’s office, accompanied by a handwritten card bearing the name “Jo Cuvelier,” suggests privileged access to the inner workings of the organization and reinforces the intimate nature of this collection. The jury for this edition brought together some of the leading figures of the international violin scene, including David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Arthur Grumiaux, and Zino Francescatti, attesting to the competition’s high standard of artistic excellence. The 1955 competition, now considered one of the most memorable, was won by Leonid Kogan (First Prize), alongside prominent laureates such as Berl Senofsky, Julian Sitkovetsky, and Victor Pikayzen, illustrating the dominance of the major international violin schools in the postwar era. It also brought together numerous candidates from major European and international schools, including Pierre Doukan, Alberto Lysy, Marine Iashvili, Igor Politkovsky, Berl Senofsky, Julian Sitkovetsky, Luben Yordanoff, as well as other young performers destined for international careers. With its rich variety of perspectives—blending official scenes with more intimate glimpses of the contestants—this album offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at a competition that has become legendary, during a pivotal era in European musical life.
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