Apollinaire de Kontski

Apollinaire de Kontski (2 July 182429 June 1879) was a Polish violinist, teacher, and composer.

Early life He was born in Warsaw (some sources say incorrectly Kraków) as Apolinary Kątski, the youngest of five musical siblings who all used the name de Kontski professionally, and the only one who was not a pianist. Their father tried to have them all recognised as "wunderkinder".

He studied with his elder brother Charles de Kontski and appeared in public at the age of four, playing a concerto by Pierre Rode. He appeared in St Petersburg, France, Germany and England, making an extraordinary impression. He was praised by the likes of Hector Berlioz and Giacomo Meyerbeer.

Career Apollinaire de Kontski had a flair for showmanship like his brother Anton de Kontski (1817–1899) He also wrote some pieces for violin with only one string, and with five strings (which he called "pentakords"). His students included Stanisław Barcewicz, Zygmunt Noskowski, Stanisław Taborowski and Konstanty Gorski.

In 1878 he performed at the Paris International Exhibition along with Henryk Wieniawski. and numerous other virtuoso pieces, all now forgotten.

Death He died in his home city in 1879, aged 53.