Conus, Jules

Jules Conus – Violin Concerto in E minor

(b. Moskau, 1 February 1869 – d. Melenki, 3 December 1942)

Preface
Jules Conus was born on February 1, 1869 in Moscow to a family of French heritage who later fled to Russia from France during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). Jules was raised in a musical milieu, all family members were musically inclined and actively involved in music. His father, Eduard Conus, was a piano teacher, his brothers George, a theorist, and Lev, a pianist, were prominent Russian musicians. All three brothers studied with notable musicians; Jan Hrimaly (1844-1915), Jules’ teacher, whom he later dedicated his Violin concerto, was a pupil of Mildner.

Upon graduation in 1888, Jules was awarded the gold medal at the Moscow Conservatory. He later played at a masterclass in Paris given by Lambert Massart, then as a member of the Paris Opera Orchestra and Edouard Colonne’s Orchestra. There Conus gained a reputation as a virtuoso violinist. In 1891, by the considerable influence of his close friend Peter Tchiakovsky, he was offered the position of concert master of the New York Symphony Society Orchestra. Conus later returned to Moscow Conservatory from 1893 to 1901, where he taught and performed frequently. He formed a great friendship with Sergie Rachmaninoff, often performing chamber ensembles of Rachmaninoff’s works. In 1893, Rachmaninoff dedicated his Two Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 6 to his friend. After the Russian Revolution, Conus moved to Paris and began teaching at the Russian Conservatory there in 1921. His students included the Canadian violinist and composer Claude Champagne. …

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