Szeryng preferred to record entire movements rather than small sections, believing that recording bit by bit destroys the music's inner tension.
Performer Biography
Henryk Szeryng, the violinist on this album, was born in Zelazowa Wola, Poland, the same birthplace as Frédéric Chopin.
Performer Biography
During World War II, Szeryng served as an interpreter and liaison officer for the Polish government in exile and gave over 300 charity concerts for Allied troops.
Performer Biography
Szeryng's international career was reignited in 1954 when his compatriot, pianist Artur Rubinstein, rediscovered him during a guest performance in Mexico.
Performer Biography
After World War II, Szeryng became a Mexican citizen and was later appointed as an ambassador extraordinary by the Mexican government in 1956.
Interpretation
Henryk Szeryng played alternately on a Stradivari and a Guarneri violin, noting that the Stradivari's sound was deep enough and the Guarneri's bright enough to make the transition between them seamless.
Performer Biography
Szeryng was a polyglot, fluent in seven languages: German, French, Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, and Dutch, and understood all Slavic languages due to his Polish origin.
