Category: Great Musicians

Ruggiero Ricci was an Italian-American violinist who was known for his virtuosity and prolific career. He was born on July 24, 1918, in San Bruno, California, to Italian parents. From a young age, he showed exceptional talent for the violin, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music.

At the age of seven, he started taking lessons with Louis Persinger, who had also taught another famous violinist, Yehudi Menuhin. Ricci’s progress was so rapid that at the age of nine, he made his public debut with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, playing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.

In 1928, when Ricci was ten years old, his family moved to Berlin, where he continued his studies with renowned violinists and pedagogues such as George Enescu and Carl Flesch. In 1932, he made his European debut in Paris, and during the same tour, he performed in London with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Ricci established himself as one of the leading violinists of his generation. He performed with many major orchestras around the world, and he was especially acclaimed for his interpretations of the works of Niccolò Paganini.

In addition to his performing career, Ricci was also a passionate advocate for contemporary music. He worked with many contemporary composers, including Krzysztof Penderecki, Alberto Ginastera, and Lukas Foss, championing their music and encouraging other musicians to include it in their repertoire.

Ricci was also a prolific recording artist, and his discography includes more than 500 recordings of works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and others. His recordings of Paganini’s 24 Caprices are considered to be some of the most definitive versions of these works.

In 1958, Ricci became the first American violinist to perform in the Soviet Union since World War II. This historic event was seen as a gesture of cultural diplomacy and helped to thaw relations between the US and the USSR.

Ricci continued to perform and record well into his later years, never losing his passion for the violin. He passed away on August 6, 2012, at the age of 94, leaving behind a rich legacy as one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.

Ida Haendel was a renowned violinist known for her virtuosity and musicality. She was born in Chelm, Poland, in 1928, and began playing the violin at the age of three. Her extraordinary talent was recognized at a young age, and by the age of seven, she was already performing in public concerts.

In 1936, Haendel moved with her family to London, England, where she continued her studies with renowned violinist Carl Flesch. She made her debut with the London Symphony Orchestra at the age of 11, and soon after, began performing with major orchestras around the world.

During her career, Haendel worked with some of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, including Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Thomas Beecham, and Leonard Bernstein. She also collaborated with some of the most esteemed musicians of her time, such as pianist Arthur Rubinstein and cellist Pablo Casals.

As a performer, Haendel was known for her intense and passionate approach to music. She was a master of both classical and contemporary repertoire, and her interpretations of works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky are regarded as some of the finest in the history of the violin.

In addition to her performing career, Haendel was also a dedicated teacher. She taught at institutions such as The Juilliard School, The New England Conservatory of Music, and the Royal College of Music in London. Her students included many accomplished violinists, such as Nigel Kennedy and Midori.

Haendel received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including the Order of Canada and the Polish Order of Merit. She continued to perform and teach well into her 90s, and remained an inspiration to generations of musicians.

Ida Haendel passed away on July 1, 2020, at the age of 91. She will be remembered as one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century, whose passion, artistry, and dedication to music touched the lives of countless people around the world.

Devy Erlih was a renowned French violinist who was born on September 24, 1928, in Paris, France. Erlih’s parents were Romanian Jews who had immigrated to France, and his father was a violinist and conductor.

Erlih showed an early aptitude for the violin and began studying with the famous violinist Jacques Thibaud when he was only 12 years old. Later on, he studied at the Paris Conservatory and graduated with the first prize in violin.

Erlih began his professional career in Paris in the 1950s, quickly establishing himself as one of the leading violinists of his generation. He was known for his virtuosic technique, his musical sensitivity, and his ability to perform a wide range of repertoire, from Bach and Mozart to Shostakovich and Bartók.

In addition to his work as a soloist, Erlih was an active chamber musician and frequently collaborated with other great musicians, including the pianist Martha Argerich and the cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. He also served as the concertmaster of the Orchestre National de France from 1976 to 1981.

Erlih was a charismatic performer, known for his dynamic stage presence, his rich tone, and his passionate interpretations of the works he performed. He toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States, and recorded over 40 albums during his career.

Despite his many accomplishments, Erlih remained humble and dedicated to his craft. He continued to teach and perform well into his later years, and his influence on the violin world is still felt today.

Erlih passed away on January 7, 2012, at the age of 83. He left behind a rich legacy of musicianship and commitment to the art of the violin, and he remains an inspiration to aspiring violinists around the world.

Nathan Milstein was one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. He was born on December 31, 1904, in Odessa, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. His family was of Jewish heritage and his father was a small-time merchant.

Milstein showed an early aptitude for music and received his first violin lessons from his father. He later studied with the renowned violin teacher Pyotr Stolyarsky, who also taught such other famous musicians as David Oistrakh.

At the age of 11, Milstein made his public debut playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Kiev Symphony Orchestra. In the early 1920s, Milstein moved to Paris where he quickly established himself as a leading violinist. He then moved to the United States in 1929, where he made his Carnegie Hall debut.

Milstein was known for his stunning technique and his rich, warm tone. He was also noted for his ability to interpret the works of J.S. Bach with particular artistry. He recorded many of the great works of the violin repertoire, including the concerti of Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Tchaikovsky.

In addition to his work as a soloist, Milstein was also an accomplished chamber musician. He played regularly with such legends as pianist Vladimir Horowitz and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky.

Milstein was a dedicated teacher as well as a performer, and he taught at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, the Juilliard School in New York City, and other institutions. He also wrote several instructional books on violin technique, which are still used by aspiring musicians today.

Milstein continued to perform late into his life, and even after retiring from the stage he continued to teach and record. He died on December 21, 1992, at the age of 87, in London, England.

Milstein’s virtuosity and musicianship helped to establish the violin as a major solo instrument, and his recordings continue to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world. He remains one of the most celebrated violinists of all time.

Yehudi Menuhin was one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. He was born in New York City on April 22, 1916, to Jewish parents who had emigrated from Russia. His father, Moshe Menuhin, was a well-known violinist and teacher.

Yehudi’s prodigious musical talent was recognized early, and he gave his first public performance when he was just seven years old. He later studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Louis Persinger, and soon developed a reputation as a child prodigy.

Menuhin’s international career began at the age of 13 when he made his debut in Berlin, playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. He went on to perform with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, and became famous for his technical brilliance, his musicianship, and his expressive interpretations.

Menuhin was also a passionate advocate for music education and for cultural diplomacy, and he used his position as an international artist to promote these causes. In 1959, he founded the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, England, which became a leading institution for the training of young musicians. He also founded the Menuhin Foundation in Switzerland, which promotes cross-cultural understanding through the arts.

In addition to his work as a violinist and educator, Menuhin was also a conductor and a prolific recording artist. He made more than 300 recordings during his career, many of which are still regarded as definitive interpretations of the works he performed. His recordings include the violin concertos of Beethoven, Brahms, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky, among others.

Menuhin was honored with numerous awards during his lifetime, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the United Nations Peace Medal, and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1955 and was given a knighthood in 1965. He was also appointed to the French Legion of Honor in 1985.

Menuhin continued to perform well into his later years, and his influence on the music world is still felt today. He died on March 12, 1999, at the age of 82, but his legacy as one of the greatest violinists and cultural ambassadors of all time lives on.

Jascha Heifetz was one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. He was born on February 2, 1901, in Vilnius, Lithuania, in what was then part of the Russian Empire. His parents were Jewish musicians and his father, Ruben Heifetz, was a violin teacher.

He made his public debut at the age of seven and was hailed as a child prodigy. His family moved to St. Petersburg, where he continued his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, under the tutelage of the famous Russian violin teacher Leopold Auer. Heifetz was known for his remarkable technique and precise intonation, which developed under Auer’s rigorous training.

In 1917, Heifetz made his American debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This performance launched his career as a soloist on the international stage, and he went on to perform with many of the world’s greatest orchestras and conductors. He became famous for his electrifying performances and his ability to tackle the most demanding pieces with finesse and sensitivity.

Heifetz was also an accomplished chamber musician, playing with legendary pianists such as Arthur Rubinstein and Emanuel Bay. He also formed the Heifetz-Piatigorsky concerts, together with his close friend, the cellist Gregor Piatigorsky.

During his career, Heifetz played on a number of violins, including the “Dolphin” Stradivarius, the “David” Guarneri del Gesù, and the “Heifetz-Piel” Guarneri del Gesù. His music repertoire included all of the major violin concertos, and he recorded for RCA Victor, Decca, and other major labels.

Heifetz was known for his intense dedication to his art, and he was known to practice for up to ten hours a day. He was also known for his perfectionism, often taking dozens of takes in the recording studio to get a piece just right. His contributions to violin technique, intonation, and phrasing continue to influence musicians today.

After retiring from the concert stage, Heifetz continued to teach violin, first at the University of Southern California, and later at the University of California in Los Angeles. He also founded the Jascha Heifetz Society to promote classical music and encourage young musicians.

Heifetz died in Los Angeles on December 10, 1987, at the age of 86. His legacy as one of the greatest violinists of all time continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.

Michael Rabin was an American violin virtuoso, who was born on May 2, 1936, and died tragically young at the age of 35 in 1972. Rabin was born to an immigrant family of violinists in New York City. His father, George Rabinowitz, was a Polish-born violinist who performed in vaudeville shows as “George Rabinoff”, and his mother was Hungarian-born violinist Isabelle “Bertha” Weinstein. 

At a very young age, Rabin began to study the violin with his parents. He made his professional debut at the age of 11 with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, performing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. He then performed with other major orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. 

His international career began at age 13, when he won the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium. Rabin continued to tour, perform and record with orchestras around the world in his later years, and was often praised as one of the most prodigious violin prodigies of the 20th century.

Rabin’s playing was characterized by a crystalline clarity, technical brilliance, and bold artistry. He was regarded as a child prodigy who developed into a mature musician of extraordinary sensitivity. His technique and tonal quality were often compared with Yehudi Menuhin, Nathan Milstein, and Jascha Heifetz.

Unfortunately, Rabin’s life and career came to a tragic end after a head injury sustained by a fall inside a New York City apartment building on January 19, 1972. His loss was deeply felt in the classical music world, and his recordings have remained popular among violin enthusiasts ever since.

Some of Rabin’s most noteworthy recordings include his interpretation of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with Sir Adrian Boult and the Philharmonia Orchestra, his renditions of the Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Charles Munch, and his performance of Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen with the Hollywood Bowl.

Henri Honegger was a Swiss cellist who was born on May 8, 1901, in Geneva, Switzerland. He began his musical studies at a young age and went on to study at the Geneva Conservatory, where he was taught by Louis Rey.

Honegger made his professional debut with the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra in 1919 and quickly gained recognition as a talented cellist. He went on to perform with major orchestras in Switzerland and Europe, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

Honegger was also a respected teacher and held professorships at several music schools, including the Geneva Conservatory and the École Normale de Musique de Paris. His students included many successful cellists, such as Pierre Fournier and Antonio Janigro.

Honegger was known for his technical brilliance, his beautiful singing tone, and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music he played. He was particularly admired for his interpretations of the works of French composers such as Debussy and Fauré.

In addition to his performing and teaching career, Honegger was also a composer, and he wrote several works for cello, including a cello concerto and three sonatas for cello and piano.

Henri Honegger passed away on August 12, 1980, in Divonne-les-Bains, France. He is remembered as one of the great Swiss cellists of the 20th century, and his recordings continue to influence and inspire cellists and music lovers worldwide.