Nathan Milstein

Nathan Milstein (Odessa December 31, 1903 – December 21, 1992, London) was a Russian-Jewish born violinist who took United States citizenship in 1942 after spending much of his life there.

Related Topics:
Odessa - December 31 - 1903 - December 21 - 1992 - London - Russia - Jew - Violinist - United States - 1942

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As a child, he was forced by his mother to take violin lessons to keep him out of mischief. When he was 11, Leopold Auer invited him to become one of his students at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He was the last of Auer's students to actively perform.

Related Topics:
Leopold Auer - St. Petersburg Conservatory

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When Auer went to Norway in 1917, Milstein went back to Odessa. In 1921, he went to Kiev and met Vladimir Horowitz, and they performed together and struck up a fast friendship. In 1925, they went on a concert tour of Western Europe together.

Related Topics:
Kiev - Vladimir Horowitz

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Milstein made his American debut in 1929 with Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He eventually settled in New York, although he repeatedly toured throughout Europe.

Related Topics:
Stokowski - Philadelphia Orchestra

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He is considered one of the 20th century's leading violinists and was especially well known for his interpretations of Bach sonatas and Romantic works.

Related Topics:
20th century - Bach - Romantic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Milstein was also a composer, arranging many works for violin and writing his own cadenzas for many concertos.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He received a Grammy Award in 1975 and was awarded the Legion of Honour by France in 1968.

Related Topics:
Grammy Award - 1975 - Legion of Honour - France - 1968

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He died in London ten days before his 89th birthday.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~