Mischa Elman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mischa Elman
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Elman with his violin in 1916
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| Born | January 20, 1891 Talne, Umansky Uyezd, Kiev Governorate, Russian Empire
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| Died | April 5, 1967 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | Russian-American |
| Occupation | Violinist |
Mischa Elman (born Mikhail Saulovich Elman; January 20, 1891 – April 5, 1967) was a famous Russian-American Jewish violinist. He was known for his amazing musical talent and the beautiful, strong sound he made with his violin. People loved his passionate way of playing.
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Early Life and Musical Start
Mischa Elman was born in a small town called Talnoye (now Talne) in what is now Ukraine. His grandfather was a klezmer, which means a Jewish folk musician who also played the violin.
From a very young age, Mischa showed incredible musical talent. He had what is called perfect pitch. This means he could tell exactly what musical note he was hearing. At first, his father wasn't sure about Mischa becoming a musician. Musicians weren't always seen as important back then. But his father eventually gave in and gave Mischa a tiny violin. Mischa quickly learned to play many songs all by himself.
Studying with Great Teachers
Soon, Mischa went to Odessa to study at the Imperial Academy of Music. A famous violinist named Pablo de Sarasate was very impressed with Mischa. He said Mischa could become one of Europe's greatest talents.
When Mischa was 11, he auditioned for Leopold Auer, a very important violin teacher. Mischa played two difficult pieces: the Wieniawski Concerto No. 2 and a piece by Paganini. Auer was so amazed that he made sure Mischa was accepted into the famous St. Petersburg Conservatory.
A Young Prodigy's Performance
Even as a young boy, Mischa had a chance to play with the famous Colonne Orchestra. His teacher, Leopold Auer, arranged it. But Auer didn't tell the conductor, Édouard Colonne, how young Mischa was. Colonne didn't like child performers.
When Colonne saw Mischa, he was very angry and refused to let him play with the orchestra. He said, "I have never yet played with a child, and I refuse to start now!" Mischa had to play with just a piano instead, while the conductor and orchestra listened.
Mischa later said, "I was eleven at the time. After he had heard me play, though, he came over to me and said: 'The best apology I can make for what I said is to ask you to do me the honor of playing with the Orchestre Colonne in Paris.'" Four months later, Mischa played with the orchestra in Paris and was a huge success!
A Brilliant Career
In 1903, Mischa Elman began playing concerts for wealthy people who supported the arts. He made his first big public performance in Berlin in 1904, which was a huge hit. In 1905, he played in London and was the first to perform Alexander Glazunov's Violin Concerto in A minor in Britain.
In 1908, he played at Carnegie Hall in New York City, making a big impression on American audiences. He even toured Australia in 1914.
Mischa Elman was incredibly busy. Sometimes, he played as many as 107 concerts in just 29 weeks! In 1917, he was given an honorary membership in a music group called Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Moving to America
The Elman family moved to the United States, and Mischa became an American citizen in 1923. In 1943, he was the first to perform a new violin concerto written just for him by the composer Bohuslav Martinů. Mischa Elman's music was so popular that he sold over two million records!
He often played with pianists like Emmanuel Bay and Joseph Seiger. He also briefly performed with his own group, the Mischa Elman String Quartet.
Mischa Elman passed away in his apartment in New York City on April 5, 1967. This was just a few hours after he finished practicing with his pianist, Joseph Seiger. He is buried in the Westchester Hills Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.
His Musical Legacy
Mischa Elman's music recordings span more than 60 years. He made his first recordings in Paris in 1906. His last recordings were made in New York in 1967. Most of his recordings were for the Victor Talking Machine Company and RCA Victor. Later, he recorded for other labels like Decca/London and Vanguard.
Images for kids
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Elman with his violin in 1916
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Portrait photograph of Mischa Elman, 1915
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The headstone of Mischa Elman in Westchester Hills Cemetery
See also
In Spanish: Mischa Elman para niños
