Violinist. She was considered one of the greatest virtuosas of her time, despite a career that was tragically cut short. Her repertoire ranged from the German classics to contemporary French music, and she was famed for her pure, powerful tone and the intensity of her live performances. Neveu was born in Paris. A child prodigy, she made her concert debut at age seven and studied at the Paris Conservatory under George Enesco and Nadia Boulanger. In 1934, when she was 15, Neveu gained worldwide celebrity when she won the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition over 180 contestants, including future virtuoso David Oistrakh, who placed second. From then on she toured extensively, often accompanied by her brother, pianist Jean-Paul Neveu. During World War II she concentrated on recordings; some of her performances have also been captured on film. After the war Neveu resumed her globe-trotting concert schedule. On October 27, 1949, while on her way to the United States, her plane crashed into a mountain on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores. All 48 people aboard that Air France flight were killed, including Neveu, her brother, and the famous French boxing champion Marcel Cerdan. At the time Cerdan's death overshadowed Neveu's in the news. It is said that Neveu's body was found still clutching her precious Stradivarius violin. She was 30.
Violinist. She was considered one of the greatest virtuosas of her time, despite a career that was tragically cut short. Her repertoire ranged from the German classics to contemporary French music, and she was famed for her pure, powerful tone and the intensity of her live performances. Neveu was born in Paris. A child prodigy, she made her concert debut at age seven and studied at the Paris Conservatory under George Enesco and Nadia Boulanger. In 1934, when she was 15, Neveu gained worldwide celebrity when she won the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition over 180 contestants, including future virtuoso David Oistrakh, who placed second. From then on she toured extensively, often accompanied by her brother, pianist Jean-Paul Neveu. During World War II she concentrated on recordings; some of her performances have also been captured on film. After the war Neveu resumed her globe-trotting concert schedule. On October 27, 1949, while on her way to the United States, her plane crashed into a mountain on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores. All 48 people aboard that Air France flight were killed, including Neveu, her brother, and the famous French boxing champion Marcel Cerdan. At the time Cerdan's death overshadowed Neveu's in the news. It is said that Neveu's body was found still clutching her precious Stradivarius violin. She was 30.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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Ici repose / Ginette Neveu / 1919-1949 / A la mémoire de / Jean Neveu / son frère / 1918-1949 / tous deux victimes / de la catastrophe / aérienne des Açores / le 28 octobre 1949
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