Josef Hassid Polish violinist of Jewish origin. Date of Birth: 28.12.1923 Country: Poland

Biography of Josef Hassid

Josef Hassid was a Polish violinist of Jewish descent. He began his musical education under the guidance of Mieczysław Michałowicz and Irena Dubinska, and made his first public performance at the age of eight. In 1935, Hassid achieved his first major success when he was awarded an honorary diploma at the Wieniawski Competition in Warsaw.

In 1937, on the recommendation of Bronisław Huberman, Hassid traveled to Belgium to further his studies with renowned violinist Carl Flesch. A year later, when Flesch relocated to the United Kingdom, Hassid followed him along with his father. Hassid made his successful debut in London by performing Tchaikovsky's Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. During the same year, he also collaborated with pianist Gerald Moore, playing concerts featuring works by Beethoven and Brahms, and made several recordings.

In 1941, Hassid received a three-year contract offer from the recording company HMV. However, due to his worsening schizophrenia, he was unable to fulfill this project. He never performed again and in 1943, he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital where he passed away a few years later after an unsuccessful lobotomy surgery.

Hassid's career as a musician lasted only a little over two years, but during that time, he earned a reputation as one of the most talented young violinists of his time. Fritz Kreisler once said of him, "Artists like Heifetz are born once in a hundred years, artists like Hassid are born once in two hundred years." Hassid possessed a dramatic and passionate performance style, combined with virtuosic technique.

All of Hassid's recordings feature piano accompaniment, with the first one being performed with Ivor Newton, and the others with Gerald Moore:

• Elgar - "La Capricieuse" (November 9, 1939)
• Elgar - "Salut d'amour" (June 12, 1940)
• Tchaikovsky - Melody, Op. 42 No. 3 (June 12, 1940)
• Sarasate - Spanish Dance No. 6 (June 12, 1940)
• Sarasate - Spanish Dance No. 5 (June 28, 1940)
• Kreisler - Viennese Caprice, Op. 2 (November 29, 1940)
• Achron - Hebrew Melody (November 29, 1940)
• Dvořák (arranged by Kreisler) - Humoresque, Op. 101 No. 7 (November 29, 1940)
• Massenet - "Meditation" from the opera "Thaïs" (November 29, 1940)