Ysaÿe, Théophile
Ysaÿe, Théophile
Ysaÿe, Théophile, Belgian pianist and composer, brother of Eugène (-Auguste) Ysaÿe; b. Verviers, March 22,1865; d. Nice, March 24,1918. He was a pupil at the Liège Cons. (1876-80), then studied at the Kullak Academy in Berlin (from 1881), and took lessons from Franck in Paris (1885). Returning to Belgium, he became director of the Académie de Musique in Brussels. He was noted as a fine ensemble player, and gave sonata recitals with his brother; during the latterà absence on tours, he also conducted the Société des Concerts Ysaye in Brussels. After the invasion of Belgium in 1914, he went with his brother to London; fearful of the Zeppelin air raids on London, he went to Nice, where he remained until his death. He was a prolific composer; his brother conducted a concert of Théophile’s works in Brussels, on Nov. 6, 1904, including the premieres of his Sym. in F major and the symphonic poem Le Cygne. Other works were a piano concerto, symphonic poems, Fantaisie sur un thème populaire wallon for orch., piano Quintet, piano pieces, and a requiem.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire