Nathan Milstein premiered Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in the Soviet Union in 1923, just three days after its Paris debut. A virtuoso musician who maintained an active performance schedule into his mid-eighties, he moved from his native Russia to the United States, eventually becoming an American citizen in 1942 and settling in New York.
Early Training and Education
Born in 1902 in Odesa, Milstein began violin lessons at age five. In 1909, he commenced studies with Pyotr Stolyarsky, a mentorship that lasted until 1914. He later studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and attended Simon Gratz High School. Beyond his formal Russian education, he traveled to Belgium to study under Eugène Ysaÿe, though he later noted that he developed his technical approach through independent thought.
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After meeting Vladimir Horowitz in 1921, the two musicians formed a close professional and personal bond, touring Western Europe together starting in 1925. Milstein made his American debut in 1929 alongside Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Composition and Technical Standards
Milstein was a composer and transcriber who focused heavily on the articulation of musical passages, frequently refining fingerings to achieve specific tonal clarity. He is known for writing original cadenzas for various concertos and for composing Paganiniana, a set of variations based on the works of Niccolò Paganini. He also performed using a 1710 instrument known as the ex-Dancla Stradivarius.
Recordings and Honors
His 1948 recording of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor with the New York Philharmonic marked a milestone as the first release in Columbia's LP format. His contributions to music earned him the Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1958, the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art in 1980, and Kennedy Center Honors. He also received a Grammy Award in 1975.
Fast facts
- Born: 1902, Odesa
- Died: 1992, London
- Citizenship: United States; Russian Empire
- Education: Saint Petersburg Conservatory; Simon Gratz High School
- Key Composition: Paganiniana
- Instruments: Violin
- Notable Award: Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Notable Award: Kennedy Center Honors
Questions readers ask
What event ended his career?
A severe injury to his left hand following a fall ended his performance career during the late 1980s.
Did he play with other famous musicians?
Yes, he held a lifelong friendship and professional partnership with pianist Vladimir Horowitz and maintained associations with figures including Gregor Piatigorsky and George Balanchine.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1958
- Kennedy Center Honors
- Instruments: violin
- Genres: classical music
