ELISABETH, QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS

(1876-1965)

   Elisabeth-Gabrielle-Valerie-Marie, the third queen of the Belgians, was born a duchess in Bavaria in Possenhofen on 25 July 1876. She married the future king Albert I on 2 October 1900. Elisabeth won great popularity during World War I in nursing soldiers on the Yser front. She is known most especially for her efforts to promote music and the other arts in the capital. The grand concert salon of the Palais des Beaux-Arts was inaugurated in her presence (19 October 1929). She personally oversaw creation of the Orchestre National International Ysaye in 1937. Later renamed the Concours International Reine Elisabeth, it became a world-renowned competition for young musicians. Elisabeth died in Brussels on 23 November 1965.