Henryk Szeryng

The gravestone of Henryk Szeryng in Monaco Cemetery bears the final measures of the Ciaconna from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partita No. 2, an instrumentally demanding work that defined his approach to the violin. A polyglot and virtuoso, his career spanned decades of global performance, diplomatic service, and the meticulous preservation of the classical repertoire through high-fidelity recording.

Early Training and Debut

Born in 1918 in Żelazowa Wola, Szeryng began piano lessons at five before moving to the violin under Maurice Fraenkel. He studied with Carl Flesch in Berlin from 1929 to 1932, followed by intensive training at the Conservatoire de Paris with Jacques Thibaud. He graduated in 1937 with a premier prix. His solo debut occurred on 6 January 1933, performing the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra under George Georgescu.

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War, Mexico, and Diplomatic Service

Fluent in seven languages, Szeryng served as a liaison officer for the Polish government in exile under Władysław Sikorski during World War II, performing over 300 concerts for Allied troops. A mission to Mexico in 1941 regarding Polish refugees led him to seek naturalization, which he achieved in 1946. By 1945, he accepted a position heading the string department at the National University of Mexico. In 1960, the state named him a cultural ambassador, a role he fulfilled while traveling on a diplomatic passport.

Return to the Concert Stage

In 1954, a backstage meeting with Arthur Rubinstein in Mexico City effectively revitalized Szeryng’s concert career. Rubinstein, moved by his performance of Bach, introduced him to impresario Sol Hurok. This collaboration produced numerous recordings, including sonatas by Beethoven and Brahms. Later, in 1964, Szeryng partnered with pianist Charles Reiner, eventually performing over 900 concerts and completing 35 records together. His extensive discography includes the first recording of Niccolo Paganini’s 3rd violin concerto.

Philanthropy and Instruments

Szeryng maintained a collection of notable instruments, including the 1744 Guarneri del Gesù 'Le Duc,' which served as his primary performance violin. His commitment to musical education included donating the 1734 Stradivarius 'Hercules' to the City of Jerusalem in 1972 to support young Israeli violinists. Similarly, in 1974, he gave the 1683 Andrea Guarneri 'Santa Theresa' to Mexico for the use of emerging national players. He also presented a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume copy of the Messiah Stradivarius to Prince Rainier III of Monaco.