One of the best-loved 20th-Century violinists was Fritz Kreisler, the Viennese-born virtuoso whose superb technique and vibrant tone could produce glowing performances of both the great concerti or schmaltzy salon morsels.

Although he won prestigious prizes in his youth and toured the US aged 14, he hesitated at first between music and a medical career.

But very soon he became one of the most highly-acclaimed and highly-paid musicians in the world. Unflappable, happy-go-lucky, with a taste for gambling and the good time, Kreisler never practised and often gave magnificent performances on borrowed violins or despite broken strings.

Orchestra players loved him for his modesty.

Elgar's violin concerto was dedicated to him and he gave its first performance in 1910.

He also made some outstanding recordings of Schubert and Beethoven with his friend Rachmaninov at the piano.

But much of his enormous success came from his recordings of Viennese and other light pieces, sometimes composed by Kreisler himself under false names.

Everything was done with grace, elegance, lots of vibrato and a sweet, golden tone.

Between the wars, he lived in Berlin, settling in the US in 1939. Kreisler died in 1962, aged 86.

-Roger Moodiman, Marine Parade, Brighton