1
Jean-Luc Ponty
(Jazz violinist and composer)
17
3
Birthdate: September 29, 1942
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Avranches, France
2
Stéphane Grappelli
(Former jazz violinist best known as a founder of the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt in 1934)
16
3
Birthdate: January 26, 1908
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: December 1, 1997
Stéphane Grappelli was a French-Italian violinist best remembered as the co-founder of a jazz group named The Quintette du Hot Club de France. The group became famous for being one of the first jazz bands to house only string instruments. Nicknamed the grandfather of jazz violinists, Stéphane Grappelli went on to play in concerts well into his 80s.
3
Ginette Neveu
(Violinist)
13
2
Birthdate: August 11, 1919
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: October 28, 1949
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4
Lorin Maazel
(Conductor)
14
3
Birthdate: March 6, 1930
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Died: July 13, 2014
5
James Thiérrée
(Circus performer)
13
3
Birthdate: May 2, 1974
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lausanne, Switzerland
Born to circus-owner parents, James Thiérrée began performing on stage at age 4. He later stepped into theater and films and gained international fame with his César Award-winning portrayal of George Foottit in the film Chocolat. He is also the grandson of legendary comedian and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin.
6
Jean-Marie Leclair
(Violinist)
10
2
Birthdate: May 10, 1697
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lyon, France
Died: October 22, 1764
7
Renaud Capuçon
(Violinist)
9
2
Birthdate: January 27, 1976
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chambéry, France
8
Rodolphe Kreutzer
(French Violinist and Composer Known for Her Opera 'La mort d'Abel')
11
2
Birthdate: November 15, 1766
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Versailles, France
Died: January 6, 1831
A pioneer of the French school of violin playing and a co-author of Méthode du violon, Rodolphe Kreutzer was also a fine music teacher at the Paris Conservatory. La mort d'Abel remains one of his best-known operas. He had also been a chamber musician of both Napoleon and Louis XVIII.
9
Eugène Bozza
(Composer)
10
2
Birthdate: April 4, 1905
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Nice, France
Died: September 28, 1991
10
Benjamin Godard
(Violinist)
7
1
Birthdate: August 18, 1849
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: January 10, 1895
11
Philippe Honoré
(Violinist)
7
1
Birthdate: March 21, 1967
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lyon, France
12
Christian Ferras
(Violinist)
1
0
Birthdate: June 17, 1933
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Touquet, France
Died: September 14, 1982
13
Jean-Joseph de Mondonville
(Violinist)
5
1
Birthdate: December 25, 1711
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Narbonne, France
Died: October 8, 1772
14
Jean-Féry Rebel
(Composer and Violinist)
2
0
Birthdate: April 18, 1666
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: January 2, 1747
15
Jacques Thibaud
(Violinist)
6
1
Birthdate: September 27, 1880
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bordeaux, France
Died: September 1, 1953
16
Zino Francescatti
(Violinist)
5
1
Birthdate: August 9, 1902
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Marseille, France
Died: September 17, 1991
17
Arnold Dolmetsch
(Musician)
4
1
Birthdate: February 24, 1858
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Le Mans, France
Died: February 28, 1940
18
Sándor Végh
(Hungarian-French Violinist Best Known as One of the Great Chamber Music Violinists of the Twentieth Century)
3
1
Birthdate: May 17, 1912
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Died: January 6, 1997
One of the greatest chamber music violinists of all time, Hungarian musician Sandor Vegh was born to folk-music-loving parents and began playing the violin at age 6. He later became a French citizen. After performing with the Hungarian String Quartet, he launched the Végh String Quartet. He also had his own orchestra.
19
Balthazar de Beaujoyeulx
(Violinist)
2
0
Birthdate: 1535 AD
Birthplace: Piedmont, Italy
Died: 1587 AD
20
Camilla Urso
(Violinist)
3
0
Birthdate: June 13, 1842
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Nantes, France
Died: January 20, 1902
21
Tasso Adamopoulos
(Violist)
1
0
Birthdate: 1944
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: January 3, 2021
22
François Habeneck
(Violinist)
1
0
Birthdate: January 22, 1781
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Charleville-Mézières, France
Died: February 8, 1849
