Ysaÿe began his study of the violin at the age of four and attended the conservatory in Liège at age eight. He later studied at the Brussels Conservatory and received 'aesthetic advice' from Vieuxtemps. He toured with Anton Rubenstein, adding to his interpretive skills through contact with the artist. He established close associations with Franck, Fauré and Debussy during a stay in France and became an enthusiastic interpreter of their violin works. He served as professor of violin at the Brussels Conservatory for 12 years. Ysaÿe appeared throughout Europe as a soloist and conductor and enjoyed extensive fame. He was also successful in the USA and served as conductor for the Cincinnati SO for four years. During his later years Ysaÿe was forced to shift his emphasis to conducting because of unsteadiness in his hands and bowing arm. He also suffered from diabetes and lost his right foot to the disease in 1929. Ysaÿe collapsed at the first rehearsal of his opera Piére li houïeu and died shortly after attending it's second performance. He is remembered as a pioneer of 20th-century violin playing and an intense and majestic interpretive performer. Though not schooled in composition, his works are original in harmony and seek to expand the range of the violin. ~ Lynn Vought