Music: Musical Olympics

Seven years ago last month, Eug;ne Ysaÿe, greatest violinist of his generation, died at his home in Brussels. Before he died, Violinist Ysaÿe had expressed a wish that his name be kept green by establishing a memorial competition for young virtuosos.

Last year, conforming to this wish, a group of Belgian musicians, led by Ysaÿe's lifelong friend and former pupil, Queen Mother Elisabeth of Belgium, founded the Concours International Eugene Ysaÿe. To Brussels, with fiddle cases under their arms, flocked contestants from 26 nations, eager to try for the bantamweight violin championship of the world. To the surprise of all, the lion's...

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