Michael Rabin (violinist)

Michael Rabin (May 2, 1936 – January 19, 1972) was an American violinist. He was one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.^[1] His fame has continued despite his death at the age of 35.

Michael Rabin was of Romanian-Jewish descent. His mother Jeanne was a Juilliard-trained pianist, and his father George was a violinist in the New York Philharmonic. He began to study the violin at the age of seven. His parents encouraged his musical development. After a lesson with Jascha Heifetz, the master advised him to study with Ivan Galamian, who said he had "no weaknesses, never." He began studies with Galamian in New York and at the Meadowmount School of Music and the Juilliard School. His Carnegie Hall debut took place in January 1950, at the age of 13, as soloist with the National Orchestral Association, playing Vieuxtemps' Concerto No. 5^[2] under the direction of Léon Barzin. Subsequently, he appeared with a number of American orchestras before his Carnegie Hall debut on 29 November 1951, at the age of 15, in the Paganini D major Concerto, with Dimitri Mitropoulos conducting the New York Philharmonic. His 1958 recording of this concerto is considered by many to be the most impressive recording of this work, and the recording itself is notable for the full tone captured by the audio engineers.

His first London appearance took place on 13 December 1954, at age 18, playing the Tchaikovsky Concerto in D at the Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Michael Rabin recorded concertos by Mendelssohn, Glazunov, Paganini (No. 1 in D major; 2 recordings), Wieniawski (No. 1 in F-sharp minor, No. 2 in D minor), and Tchaikovsky, as well as Bruch's Scottish Fantasy and the Paganini Caprices for solo violin. He recorded the Bach Sonata in C major for solo violin and the Third and Fourth sonatas for solo violin by Eugène Ysaÿe, as well as other virtuoso pieces, including an album with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Rabin played in a bel canto style. For many years, he played the "Kubelik" Guarnerius del Gesu of 1735. He toured widely, playing in all major cities in the U.S., Europe, South America and Australia. He even appeared on a 1951 episode of the variety television series "Texaco Star Theatre."

During a recital in Carnegie Hall, he suddenly lost his balance and fell forward. This was an early sign of a neurological condition which was to affect his career adversely. He died prematurely at the age of 35 from a head injury sustained in a fall at his New York apartment.^[3]

The following is an excellent description of the character of Rabin's playing:

Michael Rabin was one of the most superlative talents to emerge anywhere in the world. In 1950, at 14, he established himself as a genuine prodigy when he brilliantly recorded eleven Paganini caprices. A young man of extraordinary promise whose violinistic attributes were practically flawless, he possessed a powerful "fourth finger" that would make almost any violinist green with envy. All this was abetted by an instinctive suavity of phrasing and delivery recalling only the most supreme among his colleagues. Tenderness, charm, and a certain gentleness of character pervaded much of his playing, along with his tremendous virtuoso flair and daring. In his prime years his performance consistently exuded the aura of youth. It was the art of a phenomenal young violinist still en route to intellectual, spiritual, and cultural maturity. The premature demise of Michael Rabin was a tragic loss to the world of violin art, and we can best pay him tribute by continuing to listen to and revel in the splendor of his recorded heritage.

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