Known for his radical interpretations and charismatic stage presence, the violinist Hansheinz Schneeberger was born in Bern in 1926. In 1958, aged just 32, he was chosen to perform the world première of Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in Basel.

He was subsequently principal concertmaster with the prestigious NDR Symphony Orchestra in Hamburg before playing under the conductor Ernest Ansermet. A central figure in post-war classical music, he has since played at the leading festivals in Asia and Europe.