Charles-Auguste de Beriot was born in Louvain (Leuven) on the 20th February 1802. De Beriot played a Viotti violin concerto in public at the age of nine, and after taking some lessons from André Robberechts, a pupil of Viotti, in 1821 played for Giovanni Viotti and was later encouraged by Viotti himself to try to perfect his style, to listen to all talented players but to imitate none, counsel that he seems largely to have accepted.

He briefly worked with Baillot but did not embrace all their teachings and was also influenced by Paganini. He served as chamber violinist to King Charles X of France and to King William I of the Netherlands and toured with great success to London, Paris and the great music centres of Europe.

In 1842, Baillot died, and his position as instructor at the Paris Conservatoire was offered to de Bériot. He rejected the offer, however, and in 1843 became chief violin instructor at the Brussels Conservatory where he established the Franco-Belgian school of violin playing. On account of failing eyesight he retired in 1852, and in 1858 became totally blind. Paralysis of the left arm ended his career in 1866. He died in Brussels in 1870.

He was surely one of the most distinguished violinists of the Belgian school. As a teacher and player he brought to its height the Franco-Belgian school of violin-playing that was to prove of such importance. His most illustrious disciples were Hubert Léonard, Henri Vieuxtemps and Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst.

(Contribution by <ed2707@gmail.com>.)