Felix Slatkin
Among the most consummate of studio musicians, Felix Slatkin achieved fame for his violin performance, directing recordings of both standard symphonic fare and appealing arrangements of light music, and for being the leader of a string quartet fondly remembered as one of the finest of its time. Through his affiliation with Capitol Records, he and his wife, Eleanor Aller (cellist with Slatkin's Hollywood String Quartet), were afforded the economic base to pursue performance in areas notoriously unprofitable. Slatkin's death from a heart attack in 1963 caused genuine upset in the Hollywood/Los Angeles studio music world: by that time, he had become all but irreplaceable.
Slatkin began his music studies when he was six years old in St. Louis with Sylvan Noack. Later, he worked for a year with violinist Isadore Grossman before winning a scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music at age ten, where he studied violin with Efrem Zimbalist and took conducting classes with Fritz Reiner. Although he began to acquire a positive reputation as a soloist with major orchestras, he elected to join the St. Louis Symphony when he was 17, soon becoming assistant principal and forming a chamber ensemble of young musicians. In 1935, he won a competition whose first prize included a guest performance with the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra. During this period, he met his future wife. After his Hollywood appearance, Slatkin decided to move to Los Angeles and take up the role of studio musician. He was hired as principal violinist of the 20th Century Fox Orchestra, beginning an involvement with the Southern California music milieu that would last the rest of his life (by that time, many prominent composers and solo artists had made their home in the area). In 1939, Slatkin and Eleanor Aller married. She had just become first cellist at the Warner Brothers Studios and soon thereafter, the couple formed the Hollywood String Quartet, drawing in two other studio musicians, violinist Joachim Chassman and violist Paul Robyn. Beginning in 1941, Slatkin served as conductor of the Army Airforce Tactical Command Orchestra stationed at the Santa Ana Air Force Base and, as Aller later commented, "There went the quartet!" When Slatkin was released from service in 1945, he resumed his position as concertmaster at Fox Studios and the quartet regrouped. Paul C. Shure, assistant Fox concertmaster, replaced Chassman, and in the ensuing years, the members worked tirelessly to become America's premier string quartet, and were the first to see their reputation made by recordings. These recordings, including works from Beethoven to Schoenberg, have been made available again on the Testament label and confirm every aspect the quartet's stature. The quartet's luxuriant sound attracted listeners beyond the classical audience; Frank Sinatra chose to record with the group, also relying on Slatkin for musical direction. For Capitol Records, Slatkin made more than two-dozen recordings with the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra and his own Concert Arts Orchestra, including a Grammy-winning disc devoted to Offenbach's Gaîte Parisienne. For Liberty Records, he contributed a dozen-plus discs in the "Fantastic" series (Fantastic Strings, Fantastic Brass, Fantastic Percussion of Felix Slatkin, and more). Slatkin's sons have also achieved renown: Leonard Slatkin as a world-class conductor and Fred Zlotkin (using the original spelling of the family name) as a cellist.
© Erik Eriksson /TiVo
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Music for Christmas Day (Original Songs)
Christmas Music - Released by Baby One Records on 30 Nov 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Joyful Christmas with Felix Slatkin
Christmas Music - Released by The Christmas Lovers on 15 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Wonderful Christmas Time
Christmas Music - Released by The Christmas Lovers on 20 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nightingale
Film Soundtracks - Released by oldies and hits for future on 25 May 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dinner
Film Soundtracks - Released by Cppo Dgital on 12 Jul 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Old Christmas Train
Christmas Music - Released by The Christmas Lovers on 30 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Christmas Collection
Christmas Music - Released by Grand Hits Records on 6 Dec 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Silent Christmas Night
Christmas Music - Released by The Christmas Lovers on 5 Dec 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Silver Cup
Classical - Released by endless Loveers on 21 Jul 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas Midnight
Christmas Music - Released by Hits Forever Records on 7 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas Collection
Classical - Released by Vintage Hits Records on 29 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classic Christmas Songs
Christmas Music - Released by Hits Forever Records on 13 Dec 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Seasons Greetings
Miscellaneous - Released by Vinyle Numérique on 15 Nov 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Military Band Music
Jazz - Released by Music Today Records on 4 Feb 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Happy Christmas Candy
Christmas Music - Released by The Christmas Lovers on 5 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Silver Shining Christmas Time
Christmas Music - Released by The Christmas Lovers on 25 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Theme from "The Sundowners" (Billboard Hot 100 - No 70)
Pop - Released by Music Manager on 5 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Joy to the World
Christmas Music - Released by Christmas Evening Records on 14 Nov 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Traditions
Christmas Music - Released by Traditions on 2 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Original Christmas Songbook (Original Artist, Original Recordings, Digitally Remastered)
Christmas Music - Released by Hits Forever Records on 21 Oct 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Waiting for Santa Claus
Christmas Music - Released by Baby One Records on 27 Nov 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo