Nathan Milstein
Although Nathan Milstein hailed from Odessa, the cradle of Russian violin playing, his personal style was more classical and intellectual in approach than many of his colleagues. By the middle of the twentieth century he had become one of the most renowned violinists in the world, and he did as much as anyone else to imbue Bach's solo violin partitas and sonatas with the rather mystical aura they have presently. Milstein began to study violin at the age of seven. His first teacher was Pyotr Stolyarsky, who remained with him through 1914. Milstein's last recital as a Stolyarsky pupil included another promising student, the five-year-old David Oistrakh. Milstein then went to the St. Petersburg Conservatory to study with Leopold Auer.
Milstein began his concert career at age ten in Odessa, and soon after he played Glazunov's concerto with the composer conducting. He continued to tour the Soviet Union for the next five years. During this time, Milstein made numerous joint appearances with Vladimir Horowitz, and Horowitz's sister Regina also joined them as Milstein's accompanist. In 1925, Milstein and Horowitz were encouraged by government officials to make a concert trip outside of Russia; Milstein would never return. Milstein recalled in his memoirs that the dramatic "grand manner" of Horowitz immediately made the pianist a star, while Milstein, a much more reserved person, did not have such immediate success. In 1926, he went to Brussels to consult with and discuss matters of interpretation with the great violinist and teacher Ysaÿe.
He made his American debut with Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1929, and made his New York debut in 1930. He soon established his base there, eventually becoming a United States citizen in 1942. He may not have become a concert-hall idol like Horowitz, but he had a strong musical reputation and was always in demand. When Arturo Toscanini ended his tenure as music director of the New York Philharmonic in 1936, he asked for Milstein as soloist in his final concert. After World War II Milstein made his home primarily in London, teaching master classes around the world. He was widely regarded as a sympathetic and approachable teacher.
He also established a major recording career and remains best known for his landmark recordings of the complete solo works of J.S. Bach, becoming a pioneer of the Bach solo violin literature at a time when few players programmed these pieces, and he eschewed more superficial works that were a primary part of the violin soloist's repertory. His 1950s recording of the Bach solo partitas and sonatas on the American Capitol Records label are exemplary traversals of that great cycle and are still counted as classics of recording art. Milstein maintained a remarkably long career, keeping the muscular strength and fluid joint motion he needed until his retirement at the age of 83, acquiesced to only after he broke his arm in a fall.
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Mendelssohn: Concerto pour violon, Op. 64 - Bruch: Concerto pour violon No. 1, Op. 26 (Mono Version)
Nathan Milstein, Philharmonia Orchestra, Leon Barzin
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dvořák: Concerto for Violin in A Minor, Op. 53 - Glazunov: Concerto for Violin in A Minor, Op. 82 (Mono Version)
Nathan Milstein, Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 - Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 (Remastered 2022)
Concertos - Released by Artemisia on 4 Dec 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Milstein Pot Pourri
Classical - Released by Stave on 17 Mar 2014
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The Greatest Violinists Of The 20th Century - Nathan Milstein
Classical - Released by Synergie OMP on 11 May 2009
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Mendelssohn: Sur l'aile du chant, Op. 34 No. 2 - Poldini: Poupée dansante (Arranged for Violin and Orchestra by Leroy Anderson, Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1952
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Double concerto pour violon et violoncelle, Op. 102 (Mono Version)
Nathan Milstein, Gregor Piatigorsky, Fritz Reiner
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1952
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Felix Mendelssohn, Bartholdy: Violin Concerto In E minor, Op. 64 - Johannes Brahms: Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 77
New York Philharmonic, Victor De Sabata, Nathan Milstein
Classical - Released by OperaPrima-Carillon on 1 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lalo, Felix Mendelssohn & Dvorák
Philadelphia Orchestra, Nathan Milstein, New York Philharmonic
Symphonic Music - Released by Altair on 1 Jun 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Violin Favorites (Album of 1950)
Nathan Milstein, Arthur Fiedler, RCA Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by POPS on 1 Jan 2023
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Master of Classic Music, Glasunow - Borodin, Violin Concerto Op. 82, Steppes of Central Asia
Nathan Milstein, William Steinberg, Ferenc Fricsay, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Rias Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Oscardigital on 18 Aug 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Récital (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Pièces pour violon et orchestre, K. 261 & 373 (Mono Version)
Nathan Milstein, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Golschmann
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 35 (Stereo Version)
Nathan Milstein, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Nathan Milstein with Markevitch and Sabata in Concert
Nathan Milstein, Schweizer Festpielorchester, New York Philharmonic, Igor Markevitch, Victor De Sabata
Classical - Released by Archipel on 8 Dec 2009
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Karl Goldmark - Bedrich Smetana
Classical - Released by Documents on 1 Sep 2008
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Victor de Sabata conducts Brahms & Beethoven
Nathan Milstein, Victor De Sabata, New York Philharmonic
Classical - Released by G.O.P. on 30 Sep 2021
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Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg, Nathan Milstein
Concertos - Released by OBX Records on 21 Jan 2015
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Concertos - Released by Ivano Recordz on 6 Jun 2013
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Nathan Milstein / Orchestre de la Suisse Romande play: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Rondo und Adagio für Violine und Orchester
Nathan Milstein, Ernest Ansermet, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Symphonic Music - Released by Classico Ivano on 14 Nov 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nathan Milstein / Orchestra della Svizzera italiana play: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Violinkonzert Nr. 5
Nathan Milstein, Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana
Concertos - Released by Classico Ivano on 24 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo