Violinist Ginette Neveu was a French violinist; born in Paris, Aug. 11, 1919; she died in an airplane crash in San Miguel, Azores Islands, October 28, 1949.
She began her studies with her mother, making her debut when she was seven as soloist with the Colonne Orchestra in Paris; after further studies at the Conservatory there, she won the premier prix at age 11; then completed her training with George Enesco and Carl Flesch.
Ms. Neveu won the Wieniawski Competition (1935), and then embarked on an acclaimed career as a virtuoso, touring Poland and Germany that same year, the Soviet Union (1936), and the U.S. and Canada (1937).
After the close of World War II, she made her London debut (1945); then appeared in South America, Boston, and N.Y. (1947). Her tragic death occurred on a flight to the U.S. for a concert tour; her brother, Jean-Paul, a talented pianist and her accompanist, also lost his life. Her performances were notable for their controlled and yet impassioned intensity, ably supported by her phenomenal technique.
Here is Ms. Neveu in a wonderful interpretation of music by Chopin: