Henri Vieuxtemps, a Belgian from Verviers near Liège, was born in 1820. After initial lessons with his father, a violin maker, he received further instruction from the renowned teacher Lecloux-Dejonc. At the age of six, he made his debut and traveled with his teacher to perform in surrounding towns, where he was discovered by Charles de Bériot. Vieuxtemps moved to Brussels in 1820 to become Bériot's pupil and was introduced to the Parisian public in 1829. His musical development was furthered by his collaboration with Pauline García, a singer, pianist, and composer who was Bériot's sister-in-law. In Vienna and Paris, he deepened his knowledge of composition and instrumentation, culminating in his Violin Concerto in F-sharp minor. Following performances in Germany and Austria, he made his London debut in 1834, where he also met Niccolò Paganini. His travels took him to Russia and, in 1846, to St. Petersburg, where he shaped the Russian violin school. After a second trip to America, he settled in Brussels and taught at the conservatory. Despite suffering a stroke, he continued teaching, but retired in 1879 and died in Algeria in 1881. Vieuxtemps' violin concertos are among the most important of the 19th century and show classical influences. The Violin Concerto No. 2 in F-sharp minor, which predates the one in E major, contains classical elements and impressive virtuosic passages. The E major concerto consists of an extended opening movement, a lyrical Adagio, and a lively Rondo. The posthumously published work "Greetings to America" presents a homage to American folk tunes with bravura variations.
