Mischa (Mikhail Saulovich) Elman (Russian: Михаил Саулович Эльман; January 20, 1891 – April 5, 1967) was a Russian-born[1][2][3] American violinist famed for his passionate style, beautiful tone, and impeccable artistry and musicality.[4]
His grandfather was a klezmer, or Jewish folk musician who also played the violin. It became apparent when Mischa was very young that he had perfect pitch[citation needed], but his father hesitated about a career as a musician, since musicians were not very high on the social scale. He finally gave in, and gave Mischa a miniature violin, on which he soon learned several tunes by himself. Soon thereafter, he was taken to Odessa, where he studied at the Imperial Academy of Music. Pablo de Sarasate gave him a recommendation, stating that he could become one of the great talents of Europe. He auditioned for Leopold Auer at the age of 11, playing the WieniawskiConcerto No. 2 and 24th Caprice by Paganini. Auer was so impressed that he had Elman admitted to the St. Petersburg Conservatory.
Elman was still only a boy when Auer arranged for him to play with the famous Colonne Orchestra during their visit to Pavlovsk. Knowing Édouard Colonne's hatred of child prodigies, Auer did not tell him Elman's age when making the arrangements, and not until the famous conductor saw young Mischa waiting to go on the platform did he realize that he had engaged a child. He was furious, and flatly refused to continue with the programme. Frantic attempts were made to assure him that Elman had the recommendation of Auer himself and was well capable of doing justice to the music, but Colonne was adamant, "I have never yet played with a child, and I refuse to start now", he retorted. So Elman had to play with piano accompaniment while conductor and orchestra sat listening." According to Elman: "I was eleven at the time. When Colonne saw me, violin in hand, ready to step on the stage, he drew himself up and said with emphasis: 'I play with a prodigy! Never!' Nothing could move him, and I had to play to a piano accompaniment. After he had heard me play, though, he came over to me and said: 'The best apology I can make for what I said is to ask you to do me the honor of playing with the Orchestre Colonne in Paris.' He was as good as his word. Four months later I went to Paris and played the Mendelssohn concerto for him with great success."[6]
Career
Meditation (Thaïs)
Recording of Mischa Elman playing the meditation from Massenet's opera Thaïs. (4:27)
In 1903, Elman began to play concerts in the homes of wealthy patrons of the arts, and he made his Berlin debut in 1904, creating a great sensation. His London debut in 1905 included the British premiere of Alexander Glazunov's Violin Concerto in A minor. He played in Carnegie Hall in 1908, making a great impression on his American audience. He toured Australia in the summer of 1914. After the outbreak of World War I in Europe, Elman returned to the United States and was joined by his family in October 1914.[7]
Portrait photograph of Mischa Elman, 1915
In 1917, he was elected to honorary membership in the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity. Mischa became a U.S. citizen in 1923.
He sometimes performed in as many as 107 concerts in a 29-week season.
In 1943, he gave the premiere of Bohuslav Martinů's second concerto, which was written for him.
Sales of Mischa's records exceeded two million.
A frequent accompanist in chamber works during Elman's early American career was Emmanuel Bay, who was born on exactly the same day as Elman, January 20, 1891. But Elman also performed and recorded with Josef Bonime, Carroll Hollister, Wolfgang Rosé and others, and from 1950, his steady accompanist and recital partner was Joseph Seiger.
He also briefly performed and made recordings with the Mischa Elman String Quartet.
Elman's recorded legacy spanned more than six decades. His first 78 rpm discs were made for Pathé, in Paris, in 1906; his final LP sessions were for Vanguard, in New York, in 1967.
The greater part of his discography was recorded for the Victor Talking Machine Company/RCA Victor, with whom he had an exclusive relationship through 1950. Thereafter, he recorded for Decca/London and later the Vanguard label. Regrettably, Elman's discs have never been reissued on CD in a systematic manner (whereas almost every recording which his contemporary Jascha Heifetz made has been readily available on CD for years).
Partial discography
Mono era
Bach – Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042 – with John Barbirolli (HMV DB1871/3)
Bach – Prelude from the Partita for Solo Violin, BWV 1006 (HMV DB1873)
Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in G minor, RV 317 – with Vladimir Golschmann, and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Notes
^"Famous Violinist Mischa Elman Dies". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 6, 1967. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Elman, reputed to have played more concerts than any other instrumentalist, began his long career at the age of 5 in his native Russia...
^"Mischa Elman, Concert Violinist, Dies at Age 76". Philadelphia Daily News. United Press International. April 6, 1967. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Mischa Elman, the Russian-born violinist...
^ abc"Mischa Elman Dies at 76". New York Times. April 6, 1967. Retrieved 2015-01-14. Mischa Elman, the Russianborn violin virtuoso who was the idol of concert audiences for more than 60 years, died yesterday afternoon of a heart attack in his duplex apartment at 101 Central Park West. He was 76 years old.
^"Miecio. Letters and postcards of Janina Roza Horszowska 1900-1904", Edited by Bice Horszowski Costa, Erga edizioni 2008
^Kozinn, Allan (1990). Mischa Elman and the Romantic Style. Chur, Switzerland: Harwood Academic Publishers. p. 82. ISBN3718604973.
The studio photograph is shown reversed. Elman was not left-handed
References
Kozinn, Allan (1990). Mischa Elman and the Romantic Style. Chur, Switzerland; New York: Harwood Academic Publishers. ISBN3-7186-0497-3
Kuhn, Laura Diane; Slonimsky, Nicolas, eds. "Mischa Elman". Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Music and Musicians (Centennial [8th] ed.). New York: Schirmer Books. ISBN0-02-872415-1.
Molkhou, Jean-Michel (2011). "Mischa Elman", in Les grands violonistes du XXe siècle. Tome 1- De Kreisler à Kremer, 1875-1947. Paris: Buchet Chastel. pp. 75–80. ISBN978-2-283-02508-6
Roth, Henry (1997). Violin Virtuosos: From Paganini to the 21st Century. Los Angeles, CA: California Classics Books. pp. 82–90. ISBN1-879395-15-0
Frederick H. Martens project Gutenberg Ebook 2005
Violin Mastery "Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers"
mischa, elman, mischa, mikhail, saulovich, elman, russian, Михаил, Саулович, Эльман, january, 1891, april, 1967, russian, born, american, violinist, famed, passionate, style, beautiful, tone, impeccable, artistry, musicality, elman, with, violin, 1916born, 189. Mischa Mikhail Saulovich Elman Russian Mihail Saulovich Elman January 20 1891 April 5 1967 was a Russian born 1 2 3 American violinist famed for his passionate style beautiful tone and impeccable artistry and musicality 4 Mischa ElmanElman with his violin in 1916Born 1891 01 20 January 20 1891Talnoye Umansky Uyezd Kiev Governorate Russian Empire today Talma Ukraine DiedApril 5 1967 1967 04 05 aged 76 Manhattan New York USANationalityRussian AmericanOccupationViolinist Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Legacy 4 Partial discography 4 1 Mono era 4 2 Stereo era 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditMoses or Moishe Elman 5 was born to a Jewish family in Talnoye Umansky Uyezd Kiev Governorate Russian Empire today Talne Ukraine 4 His grandfather was a klezmer or Jewish folk musician who also played the violin It became apparent when Mischa was very young that he had perfect pitch citation needed but his father hesitated about a career as a musician since musicians were not very high on the social scale He finally gave in and gave Mischa a miniature violin on which he soon learned several tunes by himself Soon thereafter he was taken to Odessa where he studied at the Imperial Academy of Music Pablo de Sarasate gave him a recommendation stating that he could become one of the great talents of Europe He auditioned for Leopold Auer at the age of 11 playing the Wieniawski Concerto No 2 and 24th Caprice by Paganini Auer was so impressed that he had Elman admitted to the St Petersburg Conservatory Elman was still only a boy when Auer arranged for him to play with the famous Colonne Orchestra during their visit to Pavlovsk Knowing Edouard Colonne s hatred of child prodigies Auer did not tell him Elman s age when making the arrangements and not until the famous conductor saw young Mischa waiting to go on the platform did he realize that he had engaged a child He was furious and flatly refused to continue with the programme Frantic attempts were made to assure him that Elman had the recommendation of Auer himself and was well capable of doing justice to the music but Colonne was adamant I have never yet played with a child and I refuse to start now he retorted So Elman had to play with piano accompaniment while conductor and orchestra sat listening According to Elman I was eleven at the time When Colonne saw me violin in hand ready to step on the stage he drew himself up and said with emphasis I play with a prodigy Never Nothing could move him and I had to play to a piano accompaniment After he had heard me play though he came over to me and said The best apology I can make for what I said is to ask you to do me the honor of playing with the Orchestre Colonne in Paris He was as good as his word Four months later I went to Paris and played the Mendelssohn concerto for him with great success 6 Career Edit Meditation Thais source source Recording of Mischa Elman playing the meditation from Massenet s opera Thais 4 27 Problems playing this file See media help Nocturne in E flat major source Recording of Mischa Elman playing Chopin s Nocturne in E flat major 4 20 Problems playing this file See media help In 1903 Elman began to play concerts in the homes of wealthy patrons of the arts and he made his Berlin debut in 1904 creating a great sensation His London debut in 1905 included the British premiere of Alexander Glazunov s Violin Concerto in A minor He played in Carnegie Hall in 1908 making a great impression on his American audience He toured Australia in the summer of 1914 After the outbreak of World War I in Europe Elman returned to the United States and was joined by his family in October 1914 7 Portrait photograph of Mischa Elman 1915 In 1917 he was elected to honorary membership in the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity Mischa became a U S citizen in 1923 He sometimes performed in as many as 107 concerts in a 29 week season In 1943 he gave the premiere of Bohuslav Martinu s second concerto which was written for him Sales of Mischa s records exceeded two million A frequent accompanist in chamber works during Elman s early American career was Emmanuel Bay who was born on exactly the same day as Elman January 20 1891 But Elman also performed and recorded with Josef Bonime Carroll Hollister Wolfgang Rose and others and from 1950 his steady accompanist and recital partner was Joseph Seiger He also briefly performed and made recordings with the Mischa Elman String Quartet The headstone of Mischa Elman in Westchester Hills Cemetery Elman died in his apartment on April 5 1967 in Manhattan New York City a few hours after completing a rehearsal with Seiger 4 He is buried in the Westchester Hills Cemetery in Hastings on Hudson New York Legacy EditElman s recorded legacy spanned more than six decades His first 78 rpm discs were made for Pathe in Paris in 1906 his final LP sessions were for Vanguard in New York in 1967 The greater part of his discography was recorded for the Victor Talking Machine Company RCA Victor with whom he had an exclusive relationship through 1950 Thereafter he recorded for Decca London and later the Vanguard label Regrettably Elman s discs have never been reissued on CD in a systematic manner whereas almost every recording which his contemporary Jascha Heifetz made has been readily available on CD for years Partial discography EditMono era Edit Bach Violin Concerto in E major BWV 1042 with John Barbirolli HMV DB1871 3 Bach Prelude from the Partita for Solo Violin BWV 1006 HMV DB1873 Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major Op 61 with Georg Solti and the London Philharmonic Orchestra Decca LXT5068 April 1955 Beethoven Romance in F major for violin and Orchestra HMV DB 1847 Massenet Elegie Melodie with Enrico Caruso HMV DK 103 Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor Op 64 with Desire Defauw and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Raff Cavatina with Josef Bonime HMV DB 1354 Sarasate Zigeunerweisen Op 20 No 1 Schubert Valse Sentimentale with Carroll Hollister HMV DA 1144 Schumann Traumerei from Kinderszenen Op 15 with Marcel Van Gool HMV DA 1144 Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major Op 35 with John Barbirolli and the London Symphony Orchestra HMV DB1405 8 Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major Op 35 with Sir Adrian Boult and the London Philharmonic Orchestra Decca LXT2970 June 1954 Vivaldi Concerto in G minor RV 317 with Lawrance Collingwood and the New Philharmonia Orchestra HMV DB1595 6 Wieniawski Violin Concerto in D minor Op 22 with the Robin Hood Dell aka Philadelphia Orchestra Wieniawski Violin Concerto in D minor Op 22 with Adrian Boult and the London Philharmonic Orchestra Decca LXT5222 March 1956 Wieniawski Legend Op 17Stereo era Edit Bach Violin Concerto in E major BWV 1042 with Vladimir Golschmann and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra Dvorak Slavonic Fantasy in B minor Khachaturian Violin Concerto amp Saint Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso with Vladimir Golschmann and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra Kreisler La Precieuse Kreisler Schoen Rosmarin The Bell Telephone Hour orchestra under Donald Voorhees Lalo Symphonie Espagnole for Violin and Orchestra Op 21 Vienna State Opera Orchestra under Vladimir Golschmann Felix Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor Op 64 Vienna State Opera Orchestra under Vladimir Golschmann Nardini Violin Concerto in E minor with Vladimir Golschmann and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra Smetana Ma vlast No 2 Vivaldi Violin Concerto in G minor RV 317 with Vladimir Golschmann and the Vienna State Opera OrchestraNotes Edit Famous Violinist Mischa Elman Dies Los Angeles Times Associated Press April 6 1967 Archived from the original on November 9 2022 Retrieved November 9 2022 via Newspapers com Elman reputed to have played more concerts than any other instrumentalist began his long career at the age of 5 in his native Russia Mischa Elman Concert Violinist Dies at Age 76 Philadelphia Daily News United Press International April 6 1967 Archived from the original on November 9 2022 Retrieved November 9 2022 via Newspapers com Mischa Elman the Russian born violinist Schonberg Harold C April 9 1967 Mischa Elman Fiddler in a Class by Himself Louisville Courier Journal The New York Times Archived from the original on November 9 2022 Retrieved November 9 2022 via Newspapers com He was a Jewish boy from Russia who had made good a b c Mischa Elman Dies at 76 New York Times April 6 1967 Retrieved 2015 01 14 Mischa Elman the Russianborn violin virtuoso who was the idol of concert audiences for more than 60 years died yesterday afternoon of a heart attack in his duplex apartment at 101 Central Park West He was 76 years old Miecio Letters and postcards of Janina Roza Horszowska 1900 1904 Edited by Bice Horszowski Costa Erga edizioni 2008 Donald Brook Violinists of Today Kozinn Allan 1990 Mischa Elman and the Romantic Style Chur Switzerland Harwood Academic Publishers p 82 ISBN 3718604973 The studio photograph is shown reversed Elman was not left handedReferences EditKozinn Allan 1990 Mischa Elman and the Romantic Style Chur Switzerland New York Harwood Academic Publishers ISBN 3 7186 0497 3 Kuhn Laura Diane Slonimsky Nicolas eds Mischa Elman Baker s Biographical Dictionary of Music and Musicians Centennial 8th ed New York Schirmer Books ISBN 0 02 872415 1 Molkhou Jean Michel 2011 Mischa Elman in Les grands violonistes du XXe siecle Tome 1 De Kreisler a Kremer 1875 1947 Paris Buchet Chastel pp 75 80 ISBN 978 2 283 02508 6 Roth Henry 1997 Violin Virtuosos From Paganini to the 21st Century Los Angeles CA California Classics Books pp 82 90 ISBN 1 879395 15 0 Frederick H Martens project Gutenberg Ebook 2005 Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers External links Edit Wikisource has the text of a 1920 Encyclopedia Americana article about Mischa Elman Media related to Mischa Elman at Wikimedia Commons Works by or about Mischa Elman at Internet Archive Mischa Elman at IMDb Mischa Elman on public Channel 13 website Elman s Arrangement of Tango by Isaac Albeniz Score from the Sibley Music Library Digital Scores Collection Mischa Elman recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings Mischa Elman at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mischa Elman amp oldid 1124829280, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
