Mikhail Goldstein facts for kids

Mikhail Emmanuilovich Goldstein (Russian: Михаил Эммануилович Гольдштейн, also known as Michael Emmanuilowitsch Goldstein or Hebrew: מיכאל גולדשטיין), was a German composer, violinist, and teacher. He was born on November 8, 1917, and passed away on September 7, 1989. He sometimes used the pen name Mykhailo Mykhailovsky. Mikhail was the brother of the well-known violinist Boris Goldstein. His great-uncle was the famous physicist Eugen Goldstein.

Early Life and Music Training

Mikhail Goldstein was born in Odessa in 1917. His father, Emanuel Goldstein, was a math professor from Leipzig, Germany, who moved to Odessa in 1910. In 1918, Mikhail's family became citizens of the Soviet Union.

Mikhail started playing the violin when he was only four years old. He studied at the School of Stolyarsky in Odessa. His teacher was Pyotr Stolyarsky, who also taught other famous violinists like David Oistrach and Nathan Milstein.

A Master of Musical Hoaxes

Mikhail Goldstein was famous for creating "musical hoaxes." This means he wrote music himself but pretended it was by other well-known composers. One of his most famous hoaxes was "Ovsianiko-Kulikovsky's Symphony No. 21." He also created pieces he claimed were by composers like Mily Balakirev and Alexander Glazunov. He even made a "Viola Concerto in C Major" and said it was by Ivan Khandoshkin.

Mikhail focused more on composing after a hand injury stopped him from playing the violin as much.

A Musician During Wartime

During World War II, in 1942, Mikhail Goldstein was at a New Year's Eve party. This party was for artists and musicians near the Battle of Stalingrad. He saw a lot of destruction around him. He played his violin over loudspeakers, even playing German music, which was usually not allowed by the Soviets. Everyone became very quiet as he played.

After he finished, soldiers from the German side shouted for a ceasefire. They wanted him to play more music by Bach. Mikhail played for them again.

Later Life and Achievements

In 1963, Mikhail Goldstein won three awards at the All-Union Composers' Competition. He submitted his music using different names. After this, he faced some political problems.

In 1964, he took a teaching job in East Berlin. He later moved to Vienna and Jerusalem in 1967. In 1968, he moved to London, and finally to Hamburg, Germany, in 1969. He performed concerts with musicians like Galina Kowal and Michael Minsky.

Germany recognized his musical and teaching work with the Bundesverdienstkreuz medal. From 1969, he was a professor at the Musikhochschule Hamburg. One of his students was Angelika Bachmann, who is part of the group Salut Salon.

Mikhail's daughter, Lidia Goldstein, is also a violinist. She teaches music in Quickborn, Germany.

Mikhail Goldstein passed away in Hamburg in 1989. He was 71 years old.

Musical Works and Recordings

Mikhail Goldstein wrote many musical pieces and also had some recordings of his performances.

Recorded Music

• Michael Goldstein: Ukrainische Rhapsodie for Piano and Orchestra (under the name Michajlo Michajlovsky).
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Partitas for Solo Violin. Michael Goldstein, Violin.
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonatas for Solo Violin. Michael Goldstein, Violin.
• Known and Unknown Works by Bach. Michael Goldstein (Violin) and Heinz Wunderlich (Organ).
• Russian Violinist and Virtuoso Michael Goldstein Plays Sonatas and Partitas by J. S. Bach on a Weidler Violin made entirely of Maple Wood.

Published Works

• Michael Goldstein: Peter Stoljarskij. The Violin Teacher and his Talent Factory in Odessa. Published after his death in 2015.
• Michael Goldstein: Michail Ignátieff and the Balalaika – The Balalaika as a Solo Concert Instrument. Published in 1978.
• Michael Goldstein: 20 Little Preludes for Viola. Published in 1982.
• Michael Goldstein: Michael Goldstein's Method in First Violin Lessons (a violin school in 2 volumes). Published in 1978.
• Michael Goldstein: Children Make Music for violin and piano. Published in 1982.
• Alexander Glasunow: Albumblatt for violin and piano. (Actually composed by Goldstein).
• Michael Goldstein: Gavotte over B-A-C-H for solo violin.
• Joseph Reicha: Concerto E-flat major Op 2/1 for Viola. (Actually composed by Goldstein).
• Giuseppe Tartini: Sonata in E. (Actually composed by Goldstein).
• Michael Goldstein: Puppet Dance for solo violin.
• Mykola Ovsianiko-Kulikovsky: Symphony No. 21. (Actually composed by Goldstein).
• Mily Balakirev: Expromt for violin and piano. (Actually composed by Goldstein).
• Ivan Khandoshkin: Viola Concerto in C Major. (Actually composed by Goldstein).
• Michael Goldstein: Twelve Little Preludes in the First Position, published in 1964.
• Michael Goldstein: Twelve Little Preludes for Two Violins (First Position), published in 1964.