White Lafitte José (Silvestre de los Dolores)

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White Lafitte José (Silvestre de los Dolores)

White Lafitte, José (Silvestre de los Dolores), noted Cuban violinist, teacher, and composer; b. Matanzas, Jan. 17, 1836; d. Paris, March 15, 1918. He went to Paris as a youth and studied violin with Alard at the Paris Cons., obtaining first prize in 1856. After playing first violin in a quintet and giving concerts (1857-58), he was active in Cuba. He was again in Paris (1861-74), where he secured his reputation as a virtuoso and chamber music artist; he also toured in Europe and South America, later becoming court violinist to the emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil. In 1889 he settled in Paris, where he later taught a master class at the Cons. He composed a Violin Concerto, a String Quartet, pieces for violin and piano, and some church music.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire