Unbelivable....just unbelievable! He was 82 years old (correction, 82 years YOUNG) here and that particular day he had a very sore index finger and had to improvise his fingerings. His bow arm's just as good as ever. Just a walking miracle at that age when some of us can hardly move our hands and legs.
I have just come across this. Milstein has been my absolute favourite violinist ever since I first heard his early recording of the Mendelssohn concerto many years ago. I always found his purity of intonation spellbinding. His virtuosity here is staggering. I am not a string player, but I heard that the orchestra string musicians were astonished at how Milstein changed his fingerings at libitum, according to his mood at the moment. Hearing (and seeing) this, and being able to listen again, is so wonderful!
@oracleof ottawa . . . Well said, but knowing Nathan Milstein for 24 years, artist studying with him privately at his home in London, and at least twice weekly for between minimum 3 & 1/2 to 5 hours a 'session', I came to know his mind-set and unique bowing techniques shared generously with myself, Mr. Milstein's termed, "Guinea Pig, pupil of Heifetz, whom I can experiment with!" Indeed, I came to know Mr. Milstein, his spouse, and Family very well and to *this day, June 10, 2020, having just had regular email contact!!! Knowing it was a Providential Privilege to meet NM, arranged so by his great revered colleague, Sascha Lasserson, in London, to bring me to Nathan Milstein to play the Chaconne of Bach to him at Chester Square & finally find The Source needed/hoped for to liberate my Franco- Belgium bowing (beautiful yet not a circular approach) to fully realise the musical ideas in one's head & heart, to freely express upon the violin, and in concert, to convey with ease the many many hidden musical messages contained within the scores of Major Violin Concerti, Beethoven, Brahms, Bach (plus all Unaccompanied Sonatas & Partitas - Milstein's Unique Owning of) Dvorak, Goldmark, Glazounow, even Khachaturain (I was very sure of the Violin Concerto, also playing it in my JH Violin Master Class with Mr. Heifetz), Mendelssohn, Bruch, Saint Saens #3 in b minor (he loved it so much), Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso & Prokofiev V.C. No. 1 & 2 & especially NM bowing's and fingerings in No. 1, plus musical innuendi in No. 2 in g minor, etc.!!!!! So, in studying and being his assist-help in his initial Nathan Milstein Violin Master Course/s in Zurich, to be available to offer additional tips to pupils trying to grasp the Milstein Bowing & unique concept of such, I came to know him and the Life he and his Family lived very well . . . I was truly delighted when NM agreed to penn a Book with assistance of Solomon Volkov, regarding aspects of his Life and Life as a Violinist & Musician. But, not all is expressed in the Book, which I feel sure NM would not have felt comfortable sharing, as he was a very private, dignified yet solid on the soil person who hadn't the stigma of self-absorption which a few other famed artist's possessed. NM was a marvellous person, who had lived through very early trauma in his life in still Czarist Russia until the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution when all mayhem broke loose. Too lengthy, thank you for mentioning his Book which isn't really a Biography, but a sort of Memoir of his Story, much of which is known only to his close friends and family, of which I'm honoured to say, I was a part of . . . With musical greetings from America ~ Elisabeth Matesky ** ** Carrier of the Heifetz-Milstein Legacy of Violin Playing & Teaching (*www.violinist.com/directory/bio.cfm?member=Milstein ) (* www.facebook,com/elisabeth.anne.775?fref=nf ) aka, Elisabeth Anne Matesky
@Carter Pelletier I had previously studied with Jascha Heifetz in his original Violin Master Class at USC's Institute for Special Music Studies, and as one of only 7 original artist-pupil's of Heifetz, our JH Violin Master Classes were filmed which have been available on RU-vid for a good long time, yet those with Japanese subtitles are not quite accurate, so if wishing to view, or view mine which is a separate 1/2 hour filmed performance/lesson with my mentor, Jascha Heifetz, go to Jascha Heifetz Violin Master Class - Khachaturian, JH-7, Elisabeth Matesky, & type it in Russian, which should pop up! It is the Russian version but in English As It Was, and one can view Mr. Heifetz, teaching with more of his human side showing as well as the limited half hour of the 1st Mov't of Aram Khachaturian's Violin Concerto, due to time limitations as all 7 of us have our own individual 1/2 hour films with Heifetz! Thank you for posting your compliment! By the time I met Nathan Milstein, I had been on the Fulbright to London, studying with Mr. Heifetz's revered Leopold Auer class-mate, Eminent 'Guru' of Violin Playing in the Leopold Auer Tradition, RX'd by JH to study with Sascha Lasserson in London, to further my repertoire then signed under same Concert Artist Mgmt in London on the Violin Roster w/Ricci, Henryk Szeryng (my good friend) and Nathan Milstein. It was through Mr. Lasserson, that I met Nathan Milstein, who knew of my playing and invited me to come 'round to his home in London, (where I was resident) to play the Chaconne of Bach to him. Upon doing so, Mr. Milstein, immediately began offering marvellous bowing suggestions which were an answered prayer to improve my very early Franco-Belgium bowing to what you will see in the JH Film being touched upon by Mr. Heifetz, who as you may know, was studying with Leopold Auer at the same time as his younger near counterpart, Nathan Milstein!! Playing many concerts in my home country & across Continental Europe, Milstein became my 'other' Iconic Mentor, and shared so much for over 3 & 1/2 years with me re his unique bowing techniques + so much more. My Bow Arm was liberated to release one's inner hearing of great Violin Masterworks to Realities which increased demand for my playing/recording concerts around the world. Upon returning to America, I continued but took a Soloist Time Out to be in Sir Georg Solti's Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which was utterly fantastic w/a contract allowing my solo engagements to continue. If interested you can go to an American String website which gives my Profile + Contact Info ~ (Do you play Violin or some Instrument and Where!!) www.violinist.com/directory/bio.cfm?member=Milstein With musical greetings and Thank You's for writing in ~ Elisabeth Matesky (*They weren't 'lessons' with Milstein! They were advanced artist 'tutorials' at his home, *privately, in London!)
@oracleofottawa ~ As from ~ NM's first private artist pupil in London, and Mr. Milstein's self proclaimed 'Guinea Pig Pupil of Heifetz, whom I can now experiment with being w/Heifetz!' Your words about my 24 year very close friend & 2nd 🎻Mentor, Nathan Milstein, were utterly true & I still find myself wondering a Why so many violinists haven't read his magnificent Book, 'From Russia to the West' w/Solomon Volkov?? I knew Mr. Milstein from Fall 1968 - Dec. 21, 1992, DOD, which was a travesty for his wife & adult children including myself, a very close to Milstein & Family💦 It seemed surreal, yet after told by WFMT Programme Dir., on a Tel call, I fell apart. Few truly knew Mr. Milstein, but millions all Loved & Revered his beyond magnificent Instantly recognized Sound ~ The Milstein Sound & all qualities as a marvellous person to compliment his ingenious gifts which stood out as Sun=always! I private artist studied w/NM, 3 & 1/2 years at his Chester Square London home, twice weekly 4 to 5 hrs per 'tutorial' yet impromptu & inspiring violin Musique with discourse non stop! His 'secret' was in the NM DNA, by birth to never go against body physique ~ The NM Bow Arm was even more impressive than my 1st Mentor, Jascha Heifetz, & this is from In Person a goodly amount of time w/both Violin Icon's ~ Not going to give much away here please know I rarely saw Milstein minus Strad under his chin & Music not 'playing' in his inner mind sound- track!!! He was Gregarious yet dignified & funny minus vulgarity ~ A handsome man, he could've opted for Glamour in Hollywood Films, but went to Alter of Bach every day of his life spiritually ~ This was genius in simple robes of velveteen taste in speech; style & grand understanding of the World, knowing tons re politics & from personal challenges prior to his {w/Horowitz} departure from Russia then Bolshevik Russia on to Berlin, then later to Paris et al ~ So glad my close London friend whom Artur Rubinstein dedicated his Last Book sent me NM's last Stockholm violin recital here and w/Georges Pludemacher, in all the concert repertoire & 'Milstein Special' Scherzo Tarantella!!! NM loved Life & Violin plus his Family & Jascha Heifetz, who told me, "Ah! Milstein! He is my Friend, Liz" Quote, JH, Malibu, 7.4.76 with Best Wishes, Elisabeth Matesky - facebook.com/elisabeth.anne.775?fref=nf Photo FB: Potus Carter White House, EM Violin Recital/Mozart/Ysaye 3rd Solo Sonate, "Ballade" Evening, for 🇫🇷Premier, Raymond Barre, Guest Potus Carter State Dining Rm, CBS TV Cameras! Potus Carter letter to me {portion of} Keep in Touch Ottawa!! I know it from moons ago!! 12.2.2022 My Heifetz Viiolin Master Class-Khachaturian, JH-7, Elisabeth Matesky Rus vers. Library of Master Performers YT & extra Link: www.bili.bili.com
I don't really know music but I love the violin and have listened to different artists. To my untrained ear recognizing only beauty and mastery, Milstein is the only peer of Haifetz and, in some emotional way exceeds him because he gives the music what it needs instead of using the music to project himself only. He is an extraordinary artist.
As the first private artist -pupil of Nathan Milstein, at his home in London, beginning in late 1968, which was to continue until I was called back to the United States by Family issues, I was privy to Mr. Milstein's many 'Secrets' re Masterful Violin Techniques - both left hand navigation & extraordinary fingering ideas plus the uncanny Bowing he employed from within himself, Not Taught by Auer!! Over the twice a week 4 to 5 hours each day 'tutorials' in Advanced Concert Violin Repertoire, Nathan Milstein shared much of what he did with The Bow & after playing the Chaconne of Bach to him in our first meeting, (via Sascha Lasserson, whom my first Iconic Mentor, Jascha Heifetz, had sent me to whilst on my 2 Year Fulbright Fellowship to London), to the Royal College of Music, and essentially launching an International Solo Violinist Concert Career with my Debut in the Brahms Violin Concerto/Sir Adrian Boult, conducting the RCM Symphony Orchestra, & receipt of the 'Special Award for Best Unaccompanied Bach in Violin" in 1st Sibelius International Violin Concours in Helsinki, FI, I was signed by Wilfrid Van Wyck Concert Artist Management, Ltd., in London, listed on same Violin Artist Roster w/Ricci, Henryk Szeryng and Nathan Milstein! It was a 'Miracle' of providence Milatein invited me to play the Bach Chaconne for him at his newly moved to London home ~ An unusually kind and personably warm human being, he listened & immediately began offering pearled suggestions of Chaconne bowings & chording, in particular. Knowing inside my gut, to express all one heard inwardly, it was a prayer answered to be welcomed as Mr. Milstein's self-proclaimed "Guinea Pig, as I can experiment on you, a pupil of Heifetz!" Those 3 & 1/2 Years of intense study, sharing of ideas & offerings of Nathan Milstein's bowings & many sets of fingerings to all Bach's Unaccompanied Sonatas & Partitas; vast amounts of major Concerti for the Violin (& NM's favored Concerto's, yes, including both Brahms, Beethoven, Goldmark, Saint Saens #3 in b minor, Dvorak, & Prokofiev's I & II in specific movements of both concerto's) plus numerous violin/piano chamber sonatas, was a Feast of Enlightened Musical Ideas, How To's, experimentation and sharing other as yet unpublished sketches to Paganiniana. This marvellous Last Violin Recital of Nathan Milstein with his wonderful French Pianist. Georges Pludemacher, is more than Special as it was captured on film by British Producer & friend of the Milstein's, Christopher Nupen, in Stockholm ... Also beyond ethereal, is the NM with Georges Pludemacher performance of the Kreutzer Sonata, No. 9 of Beethoven, which is without any Peer! Many people including a famous artist colleague of mine, ask "How could Milstein play so remarkably so late into his '80's??!!!" The answer is manifold but suffice to say, NM loved the instrument, it's sound/his NM unique Sound; it's limitless possibilities which he rarely had away from beneath his chin & shoulder!! During English High Tea's, we would converse about many aspects of violin playing & experimentation which NM had enjoyed since early on in Russia even prior to studying w/Leopold Auer in famed St. Petersberg class with Jascha Heifetz. Toscha Seidel, Mischa Elman, Efrem Zimbalist, Sr., Kubelik & Sascha Lasserson - The Real Authentic St, Petersberg Class Assistant to Leopold Auer, often overseeing practise habits of Elman & Cecilia Hansen, plus earning the adoration & respect of both Jascha Heifetz and Nathan Milstein!! Leaving Bolshevik Russia for London to marry his wife, Sascha Lasserson chose to remain in London, despite offers from Heifetz, Elman & Zimbalist to come to New York City to open a Teaching Studio they wished to fund to pass on The Leopold Auer Tradition to American Violinists & String Cousins, for as I'm aware from 45 years of Artist Teaching, many approaches to The Bow Technique/s of Nathan Milstein apply to all other Strings!! The Encore on this never imagined Last Violin/Piano Stockholm Recital, is Milstein's 4th Movement Allegro from the Great Bach Unaccompanied Third Sonata for Violin in C Major!! If violinists want to closely observe secrets of Nathan Milstein's Longevity, watch his dazzling yet eminently musical bowing mastery in the Last Allegro of the 3rd Solo Sonata for Violin of Johann Sebastian Bach which is 'Natural' to Milstein's physique. With Musical Greetings from America ~ Elisabeth Matesky (May 26, 2020) (www.violinist.com/directory/bio.cfm?member=Milstein ) (facebook.com/elisabeth.anne.775?fref=nf )
Hello Jamie Haenisch, again!!!! I remember you from a Discussion on Violinist.com re trying to access my JH Violin Master Class film which no one could find in later 2019, which was deeply upsetting to me as the Link to it on RU-vid had been changed and I was bereft to say the least . . . Yet, you kept at it and wrote in to All: "I finally found it" and gave a LInk unknown to me, but I was jubilant, posting the Discussion on my FB Timeline Page for many to see!!!!! A colleague in NYC,. also saw your Post and further researched my JH Film, writing saying she typed in Heifetz Violin Master Class in Russian (my Russian is non existant!) 'and it just popped up!!!" Again, I was deeply heartened it was and still is which is up on my FB Timeline if you wish to go on FB without charge!!! I'd like to know how your violin studies are going and how things are in general, but of course, Life has traumatically changed for us all since late January, 2020, when our Leaders became aware of the Coronavirus Nightmare which, thankfully, the President closed all flights coming in from China, yet it was already being spread by those from the province who were flying to Italy, OMG, and as we all know, it is a Global Pandemic of Giant proportions and not since 1917, when the Spanish Flu was in America, but not so badly as in terrible infected and affected Europe with at least 75,000,000 to 100,000,000 souls dying from the terror . . . Please Stay In and Safe, Jamie, for I fear it is Not Over, and mixing with those who are reckless re the Covid-19 Virus can be asymptomatic yet pass it on to innocent others. So Be Extra Safe; wear a Face Mask whenever going out of your home and do Not get near even 'friends' tho you may know them for many young people seem to think they won't get it or 'it's no big deal'. News: a colleague of mine is fighting for his Life and hanging by a thread with many of us calling and lending all the love and support we can to give him the Will to Fight to Live ... So remember this and (F.G.) in your prayers, okay Jamie?!! Contact me via my Link I'm listing here, okay! Be Well and watch your parents carefully ~ Link to my Profile on the site we first met: www.violinist.com/directory/bio.cfm?member=Milstein Sending you warmest greetings and hoped for blessings of Health and Violining!!! Elisabeth Matesky ~ June 10, 2020
Hello Elisabeth. I recall seeing this programme on TV at the time it was made and it always seemed to me that Milstein never put down his violin, which made him so flexible right up until the last. For myself, however, after studying at the Guildhall, in London, for five years with a wonderful professor, I had to neglect my studies, to some extent, to pursue an active career in another field. It served me well though as it has enabled me to appreciate the art of violin playing well beyond the average listener. It is wonderful to read your past violin studies with Jacobsen and - especially Milstein - as I know you spent many years with Heifetz - having watched you go through the Heifetz mill in those films - which I have on tape and now up on RU-vid. For you to take the trouble to tell us so much about your dedicated training explains why you are such a fine musician after all those years with the very best. Although I never heard Milstein live, I did get to hear Heifetz on three occasions in London in the late forties and fifties. Do keep well. David.
Натан Мильштейн в своих воспоминаниях пишет о том как он со своей красавицей мамой в 1910 году посетил выступление Яши Хейфеца в Александровском саду в Одессе , впечатление было настолько сильным ,что на другой день мать отвела его к П Столярскому на предмет определения его муз пригодности . Столярский ничего определенного не ответил . но когда узнал ,что отец Натанчика является директором Суконной фабрики ,то сразу же нашел , что у мальчики руки созданы для скрипки ,. и .....не ошибся !
increible!! a los 82 años, sin duda uno de los mas grandes en la historia del Violin, esa tecnica descomunal buscada en el extremo detalle, solo es posible compararlo con el supremo Heifetz o Perlman, un verdadero regalo.
@19304422 (of 6 years ago ... ) As from Elisabeth Matesky, Carrier of the Heifetz-Milstein Legacy of Violin Playing Genius inspires those who aspire to emulate it!!! As the first Private Artist-Pupil of Nathan Milstein, and for 3 & 1/2 years at his home in London, I know what you were trying to describe because Mr. Milstein's artistry and Ease of navigating upon the violin was so masterful and beyond that of all his eminent colleagues, excepting his Peer, my 'other' Mentor, Jascha Heifetz, when standing 3 feet away in his home, when he would demonstrate particular violin passages or offer alternate fingerings or bowing's, I would 'feel' it Easy!!!! Being by then a Concert Artist, under same Concert Artist Management as Nathan Milstein, Ricci and Henryk Szeryng, I was in 'concert form' yet knew being in the environment of Nathan Milstein's Art and marvellous instinctive mentoring, I could play far above any concert artist level's prior to studying with him and despite over the top music critiques of praise for my own playing ... It was not enough because a providential meeting brought me to The Source which one so needed to Lift my playing Up to the level of musical expression in one's inner mind/head, but needed to have an exceptional expanded 'tool box' to do so. This, Nathan Milstein, gave to me and generously . . . You may not play or if you do, it seems you have some idea of How truly Difficult it is to sound So Magnificently!! Whatever the case may be, Milstein's Mastery made many feel calm and full of an inner confidence that perhaps with 7 hours a day Thinking & practise + musical ideas to use a liberated technique to bring to the fore, anything was possible!!!!!! You may never see this, but I'm heartened you wrote what you did . . . Elisabeth Matesky ( www.violinist.com/directory/bio.cfm?member=Milstein ) 6.10.20
@huisclos123 sameuljamescollins ( 8 years ago) from Elisabeth Matesky, Carrier of the Heifetz-Milstein Tradition of Violin Playing Knowing Nathan Milstein for 24 years from the initial time of meeting him in London @ the RFH, backstage, I take a bit of offense at your comment, "young milstein milstein was really matter of fact too!" You did NOT know him nor it sounds to me, every meet nor audit a Nathan Milstein Violin Master Course in Zurich or in NYC, and to be so nervy to make a statement about such glorious Artistry and Sensitivity, is both Ignorant Plus and Rude. I artist-studied with Mr. Milstein, privately, in London for 3 & 1/2 years twice a week for 3 to 5 hours each time, becoming his First Artist- Pupil, whom he enjoyed calling "my Guinea Pig, a pupil of Heifetz, whom I can experiment with as you play so well." Nathan Milstein was in No Way 'matter of fact' about Anything. And if he were here on Earth, you would Not Dare to write what you did 8 years ago which has been brought to my attention. As his protege and Artist -Help Assistant to his First Nathan Milstein Violin Master Course in Zurich in Summer 1970 to 1972, I came to know his entire Family, and feel a part of them. Thusly, in my mentor's name, I insist you retract your cheeky & insulting comment when you see this. Try, if you have access, listening to Mr. Milstein's recording of Bloch's Nigun from the Baal Shem; then try listening/watching Mr. Milstein's Beyond the Stratosphere Loving Performance of Beethoven's Sonata for Piano & Violin, No. 9, "Kreutzer", performed LIVE, in Stockholm, in what would be the Last Public Recital of the Great Milstein's Career with his French Pianist, Georges Pludemacher. This performance is ROYAL, and shall probably Never be equalled by numerous generations to come ~ If you are a 'show off', you won't respond to this because those who can't play or even play anywhere near the Artistry of the only Peer of *Heifetz, (my *first Iconic Mentor) crawl away when challenged by Those who Know and have Done. Just in Case you have some manners, go to the online site: www.violinist.com/directory/bio.cfm?member=Milstein Elisabeth Matesky (June, 2020)
Check his left hand first finger. Used as little as possible throughout this recital. He was suffering great pain with it, and was 'inventing' new fingerings as he was playing. Tragically, this was to be his last ever concert, as the pain was just too much. Pure genius in action.
Whomever commented that Milstein's artistry & mastery in Bach, etc., 'is so different from Perlman' is very ignorant about Genius vs. Doing His Best despite great odds. It is wonderfully admirable that I. Perlman has risen up to his wonderful Talent again, despite having suffered the horrendous effects of polio as a boy living in Israel ~ He possesses wonderful joy when making music & shares it with all his audiences! Yet, to try comparing Nathan Milstein, The Only Peer of Heifetz, to Perlman, shows an unawareness or ignorance of Great Violin Art to a Very Fine & Beloved Violinist who called *Heifetz (& in turn perhaps not knowing it, *Milstein) "GOD" ~ The Two studied, knew and deeply admired each other!! Perlman is not of that vintage but has made violin playing 'popular' for many non musician people which is a Gift to the Baby Boomer 'lost re Greatest Violin Art Generation' . . . A parallel is to say, 'A Stardivarius doesn't sound like a Vuillaume!'
