Ten Great Violinists

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1. One of the most famous of all violin virtuosi was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1782. His playing was so far superior to that of his contemporaries that rumours abounded he had sold his soul to the Devil – rumours he did nothing to discourage. Who was he? Niccolò Paganini Arcangelo Corelli Louis Spohr Giuseppe Tartini

2. Born in 1831, this Hungarian violinist was a close friend of the composer Brahms, and in 1879 gave the first performance of his Violin Concerto in D, op 77. In 1903, four years before his death, he made some short, but historically valuable, recordings of music by Bach and Brahms, as well as his own compositions. What was his name? Eugène Ysaÿe Josef Suk Henri Vieuxtemps Joseph Joachim

3. The famous violinist Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) is also remembered for a number of showpieces he composed as encores for himself to play. Which of the following is NOT one of his compositions? Caprice no 24 Liebesfreud Liebeslied Tambourin Chinois

4. The violinist Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) gave the world premieres of violin concertos by a number of twentieth-century composers. Which of the following did NOT compose a violin concerto premiered by Heifetz? Louis Gruenberg Erich Korngold William Walton Jean Sibelius

5. Which great Russian violinist was a close personal friend of the composer Shostakovich, and gave the first performances of both of his violin concertos? Leonid Kogan Maxim Vengerov Gidon Kramer David Oistrakh

6. In 1932, this violinist, while still only 16, made a famous recording of Elgar’s "Violin Concerto in B Minor" conducted by the composer. In later life, he founded the music school in Surrey, England, that bears his name. Who is he? Gidon Kremer Ruggiero Ricci Yehudi Menuhin Nathan Milstein

7. The violinist Isaac Stern, born in 1920, played a key role in preventing the demolition of which New York landmark? Metropolitan Opera House Brooklyn Bridge Empire State Building Carnegie Hall

8. Why was 10-year old Ida Haendel almost prevented from making her London debut in 1937, playing Beethoven's Violin Concerto at the Queen’s Hall under the direction of Sir Henry Wood? The concert was due to finish at 10.30 pm, which was past her bedtime Sir Henry at first refused to perform with such a young musician She had recently been ill with measles Local bylaws prevented children under 14 from performing on Sundays

9. What action by the violinist Nigel Kennedy prompted the Controller of BBC Radio 3, Sir John Drummond, to accuse him of behaving like a “Liberace for the Nineties”? Setting fire to his violin on stage Cancelling a rehearsal to watch a football match Throwing his underwear into the audience Performing the Berg violin concerto dressed as Dracula

10. The German-born violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter was married to which distinguished conductor, composer and pianist between 2002 and 2006? Simon Rattle Vladimir Ashkenazy Claudio Abbado André Previn