Born in 1933, Christian Ferras exhibited a strong talent as a child, studying violin with George Enescu and eventually coming to the attention of the leading conductors of his day.
He was a soulful, intelligent artist who produced a sound that was unique, elegant, and golden. He also had what all the great violinists of an earlier age had: the quality of inimitability, each performance marked with a musical thumbprint, unique and recognizable. Put on a Ferras recording, and there’s no mistaking that rapid, intense vibrato or his distinctive portamenti (the expressive slides from note to note).
In spite of the beautiful music he produced from his instrument, Christian Ferras struggled with severe lifelong depression. The illustrious career of this distinguished violinist came to a tragic end when he committed suicide on September 14 1982.
One Ferras performance will always stay with me: A recording of the notoriously difficult Sibelius Violin Concerto:
