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Haendel, Ida, Polish-born English violinist; b. Chelm, Dec. 15, 1923.
She was a child prodigy. At 4, she began formal studies with Miecyzslaw Michalowicz at the Warsaw Conservatory, where she won its gold medal in 1933. She then pursued training in Paris and London with Flesch and Enesco. In 1935 she won the Polish prize offered at the 1st Wieniawski Competition in Warsaw. At 14, she attracted notice in London when she appeared as soloist in the Brahms Concerto under Sir Henry Wood's direction at a Proms concert. During World War II, she gave many concerts for Allied troops. In 1940 she became a naturalized British subject. In 1946-47 she made her first tour of the U.S. Although she lived in Montreal from 1952 to 1989, she made annual tours of Europe, and also appeared regularly in South America and Asia, including a tour of China in 1973 as soloist with John Pritchard and the London Philharmonic From 1991 she was also active as a teacher. In 1982 she was awarded the Sibelius Medal. Her career was the subject of the CBC-TV documentary IDA HAENDEL: A VOYAGE OF MUSIC in 1988. In 1991 she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She published the autobiographical volume WOMAN WITH VIOLIN (London, 1970). Haendel's virtuoso technique, ably complemented by a thoroughgoing musicianship, has won her admirers in both the concerto and recital repertoires. Her extensive concerto repertoire embraces scores from Bach to Walton.
Source: "Ida Haendel." BAKER'S BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF MUSICIANS®, Centennial Edition. Nicolas Slonimsky, Editor Emeritus. Schirmer, 2001. Reprinted by permission of The Gale Group.
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