Rachel Barton Pine
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Rachel Barton Pine (born October 11, 1974) is a violinist from Chicago. Considered a child prodigy at the violin, she started playing at 3 and a half, debuted with the Chicago String Ensemble at age 7, and with the Chicago Symphony at age 10. She played at many other renowned venues through her child and teen years. She currently resides in Chicago with her husband Greg, plays regularly with the Chicago Symphony and on her own, tours worldwide, and has an active recording career.
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[edit] Metra Accident
On January 16, 1995, Rachel was severely injured in a train accident. As she was exiting a Metra commuter train in the suburb of Winnetka, where she taught violin lessons, her violin case became caught in a closing door. The doors, which were controlled remotely and had no safety sensors, failed to open, and she was dragged 366 feet by the train before being pulled underneath and run over, severing one leg and severely mangling the other.
She sued Metra and in 1999, the case went to court. Metra argued that she made the choice not to let go of the violin case due to the value of the instrument, a 400-year-old Amati valued at around $500,000, and thus she carried most of the blame for her injuries. The jury decided otherwise, however, and awarded her $29 million. They only assigned her 4.5% of the fault in the case. Metra changed its conductor safety procedures following the accident and made other changes to the trains themselves.
[edit] Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation
Rachel has since started a foundation bearing her maiden name to promote the study and appreciation of classical music, including string music by black composers.
[edit] Discography
Her recordings includes releases with themes related to Sarasate, Liszt, heavy metal, Handel, black composers, the demonic, violin-cello duos, New Zealand, Brahms and Joachim, baroque, and Scotland.
- Homage to Sarasate with Samuel Sanders (piano) - Dorian Recordings, 1994: DOR-90183
- Liszt: Works for Violin and Piano, Vol.1 with Thomas Labé (Piano) - Dorian Recordings, 1997: DOR-90251
- Stringendo: Storming the Citadel with Edgar Gabriel (violin) and Brandon Vamos (cello) - Cacophony Records, 1997
- Handel: Sonatas for Violin & Continuo with David Schrader (harpsichord) and John Mark Rozendaal (cello) - Cedille Records, 1997: CDR 90000 032
- Violin Concertos by Black Composers of the 18th and 19th Centuries with Encore Chamber Orchestra; Daniel Hege, conductor - Cedille Records, 1997: CDR 90000 035
- Instrument of the Devil - with David Schrader (harpsichord), John Mark Rozendaal (cello) and John Bruce Yeh (clarinet) - Cedille Records, 1998: CDR 90000 041
- Double Play: Twentieth Century Duos for Violin and Cello with Wendy Warner (cello) - Cedille Records, 1999: CDR 90000 047
- Introduction, Theme, and Variations on “God Defend New Zealand” - Cacophony Records, 2002
- Brahms and Joachim Violin Concertos with Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, conductor - Cedille Records, 2003: CDR 90000 068
- Solo Baroque - Cedille Records, 2004: CDR 90000 078
- Scottish Fantasies for Violin and Orchestra with Alasdair Fraser (fiddle) and Scottish Chamber Orchestra; Alexander Platt, conductor - Cedille Records, 2005: CDR 90000 083
