Among the untold stories in Merseyside’s cultural history, one of the most remarkable is that of Felix Yaniewicz (1762-1848), a Polish-Lithuanian violin virtuoso and composer who arrived in Liverpool in 1799.
Born in Vilnius, Yaniewicz had played in the Polish royal chapel from the age of fifteen. In 1785 King Stanisław August Poniatowski paid for him to travel to Vienna, where he played for Haydn and Mozart. Mozart is said to have been greatly impressed, and his 19th-century biographer speculates that Mozart’s lost Andante in A Major was written for Yaniewicz.
After three years in Italy, and a glittering debut in Paris, Yaniewicz’s continental career was cut short by the outbreak of the French Revolution, and he escaped to Britain where he would spend the rest of his life. On arrival in London, he quickly established himself as a sensational performer and was soon touring up and down the country. In 1799 he moved to Liverpool (by then a fashionable metropolis) where he married, raised his family, and founded a musical instruments business. He later moved to Scotland, where he is best known for his role in founding the first Edinburgh music festival in 1815.
Five years ago, the chance discovery of a historic piano over 200 years old, bearing Yaniewicz’s name and the address of his Liverpool business, prompted new research into his story, and led to an exhibition in Edinburgh in 2022 celebrating his musical legacy. The exhibition received over 10,000 visitors and was featured on BBC Radio 3 and Poland’s TVP Kultura. The Chopin Institute in Warsaw is now embarking on a landmark series of recordings of Yaniewicz’s violin concertos, to restore his place in musical history.
Join us at 5.00pm on 14th September at the Liverpool Athenaeum to hear Yaniewicz’s fascinating story, in a richly illustrated talk by the exhibition’s curator, Yaniewicz’s great-great-great-great-granddaughter, Josie Dixon.
Opening with a drinks reception hosted by the Consul General of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Ireneusz Truszkowski, the evening’s presentation will begin with the President of the Athenaeum, Dr. Paul Burns, sharing some records from the archives connecting the Club with Yaniewicz’s time in Liverpool. Director of Merseyside Polonia, Gosia McKane will outline the more recent history of the Polish Community in Liverpool, and Professor John Belchem will provide the historical context for Yaniewicz’s arrival and career in the city.
Please note, tickets are free, but booking is essential as places are limited. Book here.
Event Date: Saturday 14th September 2024
Categories: 2024 | Classical Music | Heritage | Liverpool | Music | Talk
