Paul Viardot

Paul Viardot (20 July 1857 – 1 December 1941) was a French violinist and composer who appeared with great success in Paris and London.

The Belgian violinist Charles de Bériot, second husband of Paul's aunt, Maria Malibran, remained close to the Viardots and took an interest in the boy, though Paul actually studied with Bériot's successor at the Brussels Conservatoire, Hubert Léonard (also related by marriage to the Garcia clan).

He was a close friend to Gabriel Fauré, who was briefly engaged to his sister Marianne, and dedicated his first violin sonata to him.

But they are examples of the Franco-Belgian school of violin playing in its rather tight phase, before the loosening and relaxing influence of Eugène Ysaÿe.

[2] Viardot's compositions include two sonatas, several concert solos and smaller violin works as well as important contributions to the literature of music.