Hubay, Jeno

Born Sept. 15, 1858, in Budapest; died there Mar. 12, 1937. Hungarian violinist, conductor, teacher, and composer.

Until the age of 13, Hubay studied with his father, the violinist and composer Karl Hubay (1828–85); from 1871 to 1876 he studied with J. Joachim at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. He gave concerts in Budapest from 1876 to 1878 and in Paris from 1878 to 1882; in Paris he pursued advanced study on the violin with H. Vieuxtemps. Hubay was principal professor at the Brussels Conservatory from 1882 to 1886, when he returned to Budapest to assume the post of professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, which he directed from 1919 to 1934. His pupils included J. Szigeti.

Hubay, who performed as a soloist and as leader of the Hubay String Quartet, was a brilliant virtuoso whose playing was noted for its nobility and fervor. His approximately 120 compositions include eight operas, notably The Violin Maker of Crémone (1893, Budapest) and Anna Karenina (1923, Budapest). Hubay also composed four symphonies, including the Petőfi Symphony, and numerous works for violin, primarily virtuoso pieces for solo performance. Other works include four concerti, romantic sonatas, short compositions, and études. Hubay’s Scenes From the Tavern, in 14 books, draws on the melodies of popular Hungarian songs.