René-Charles "Zino" Francescatti (August 9, 1902 - September 17, 1991) was a French virtuoso violinist.
Zino Francescatti was born in Marseilles, to a musical family. Both parents were violinists. His father, who also played the cello, had studied with Camillo Sivori. Zino studied violin from age three and was quickly recognized as a child prodigy. He began performing at the age of five and made his debut at age 10, playing Beethoven's Violin Concerto.
In 1927 he went to Paris to teach at the École Normale de Musique; he also conducted the Concerts Poulets. He made his first world tour in 1931 and his American debut with John Barbirolli and the New York Philharmonic in 1939, playing Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 1. His recording of the concerto is still regarded as one of the best. At the end of World War II in 1945, he pursued an outstanding international career until his retirement in 1976.
A violinist of outstanding technical ability, Francescatti played all of the great concerti. His performances of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3, Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1, and others, are highly regarded.
Francescatti made many renowned recordings, including the Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano with Robert Casadesus. He performed on the celebrated "Hart" Stradivarius of 1727. Upon his retirement, he sold the instrument and established the Zino Francescatti Foundation, to assist young violinists, in La Ciotat. In 1987 an international violin competition was organized in his honor in Aix-en-Provence.
He died in La Ciotat, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, aged 89.
"Known for his lyrical performance style and as a champion of contemporary violin music by such composers as Darius Milhaud, Leonard Bernstein, and Karol Szymanowski." - Encyclopædia Britannica
"Francescatti's playing was marked by a seemingly effortless technique, warmth of expression, and tonal elegance. "[1]
"One of the great classical violinists of the twentieth century. Among his recordings are Saint-Saëns's famous and popular Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, with Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic." [2]