Known live and video recordings, the commercial recordings, films, articles,

his bibliography, related web pages,and the Rabin group.

MICHAEL RABIN'S  Guarnerius del Gesu 1737 "The Townley"

IN MEMORIAM

MICHAEL RABIN


2 May 1936 - 19 January 1972

Michael Rabin - The Liveography Extant

"Off The Air" Recordings

 

THE MAIN CONTENTS OF THE MICHAEL

RABIN WEB PAGE FOLLOW THIS LIST

 

Broadcast from Main Hall in Carnegie Hall - April 17, 1950

Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 1 in f# minor, Op. 14.

National Orchestral Association

Charles Blackman, conductor

 

Bell Telephone Hour - August 7, 1950

Michael Rabin's debut on The Telephone Hour

Mendelssohn: On Wings of Song

Paganini: Caprice No. 17 in Eb

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in e minor, Op. 64 - III. Allegretto non troppo - Allegro molto vivace

 

Bell Telephone Hour - December 11, 1950

Mendelssohn. Song without Words, Op. 19, No. 1

Kreisler. Tambourin Chinois

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35 - III. Finale (Allegro vivacissimo)

 

Bell Telephone Hour - July 9, 1951

Dvorak: Slavonic Dance No. 10

Kroll: Banjo and Fiddle

Lalo : Symphonie Espagnole, Op. 21 - V. Rondo (Allegro)

 

Bell Telephone Hour - October 22, 1951

Godowsky-Heifetz: Alt Wien

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35 - I. Allegro moderato

 

Bell Telephone Hour - December 17, 1951

Brahms-Heifetz: Contemplation

Kreisler: Caprice Viennois

Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28

 

Broadcast from Main Hall in Carnegie Hall - December 12, 1951

Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 1 in f# minor, Op. 14.

New York Philharmonic

Dimiti Mitropoulos, conductor

 

Bell Telephone Hour - Carnegie Hall - April,28 1952

Bach Double Violin Concerto 1st Move

with Zino Francescatti

 

Bell Telephone Hour - June 9, 1952

Glazunov: Violin Concerto in a minor, Op. 82 - III. Allegro

Mendelssohn-Heifetz: Song without Words (Sweet Remembrance)

Wieniawski-Kreisler: Etude-Caprice in a minor, Op. 18, No. 4

Wieniawski: Polonaise in D

 

Bell Telephone Hour - November 10, 1952

Chopin-Milstein: Nocturne in c# minor

De Falla-Kreisler: Spanish Dance (from "La vida breve")

Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20, No. 1

 

Bell Telephone Hour - August 17, 1953

Engel-Zimbalist: Sea-Shell

Kreisler: Old Refrain

Scriabin-Szigeti: Etude in Db ("Etude in Thirds"), Op. 8, No. 10

Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 5 in a minor - Cadenza / II. Adagio / III. Allegro con fuoco

 

Bell Telephone Hour - November 9, 1953

Sarasate: Carmen Fantasie - movs III. and IV.

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in e minor, Op. 64 - I. Allegro molto appassionato

 

Standard Hour Broadcast from Santa Barbara California - 1953

Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 1 in f# minor, Op. 14

Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

Alfred Wallenstein, Conductor

 

Bell Telephone Hour - May 10, 1954

Saint-Saens: Havanaise, Op. 83

Debussy-Hartmann: La fille aux cheveux de lin

Paganini-Kreisler: Moto perpetuo

 

Broadcast from Main Hall in Carnegie Hall - May, 1954

Glazunov: Violin Concerto in a minor, Op. 82

New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Dimitri Mitropoulos, Conductor

 

Broadcast - July 2 1954

Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 1 in f# minor, Op. 14

Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

Alfred Wallenstein, Conductor

Bell Telephone Hour - August 23, 1954

Moszkowski-Sarasate : Guitarre

Elgar : La capricieuse, Op. 17

Kreisler: Liebeslied

Novacek: Moto perpetuo

 

Bell Telephone Hour - March 28, 1955

Rachmaninov-Kreisler: Variation 18 from Rhapsodie on a theme by Paganini

Suk: Burleska (Four Pieces, Op. 17, No. 4)

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35 - III. Finale (Allegro vivacissimo)

 

Bell Telephone Hour - May 16, 1955

16th Anniversary Telephone Hour Broadcast including Michael Rabin saying his name

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in e minor, Op. 64 - III. Allegretto non troppo - Allegro molto vivace

Massenet: Elegie (with Brian Sullivan, tenor)

This programme was issued on a Bell Telephone comemorative LP

 

Bell Telephone Hour - June 13, 1955

Dvorak-Kreisler: Slavonic Dance in e minor

Kreisler: La Chasse

Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 - III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace

 

Bell Telephone Hour - October 24, 1955

Mendelssohn: On Wings of Song

Kroll: Banjo and Fiddle

Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20, No. 1

 

Bell Telephone Hour - June 18, 1956

Engel- Zimbalist: Sea-Shell

Mendelssohn-Heifetz: Song without Words (Sweet Remembrance)

Prokofiev-Heifetz: March from "Love for Three Oranges"

Saint-Saëns-Ysaÿe : Caprice d'apres (Étude en forme de valse), Op. 52, No. 6

 

 

Bell Telephone Hour - September 10, 1956

Kreisler: Old Refrain

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35 - I. Allegro moderato

 

Broadcast - Januar 28, 1957

Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op.63

Koelner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester (WDR Broadcast Orchestra)

Andre Cluytens, Conductor

 

Bell Telephone Hour - June 3, 1957

Sarasate: Romanza Andaluza

Wieniawski-Francescatti. Caprice in a minor

Bruch: Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra - III. Andante sostenuto & IV. Finale

 

Bell Telephone Hour - February 3, 1958

Godowsky-Heifetz: Alt Wien

Gardner: From the Cane Break

Sarasate: Habañera (Spanish Dances, Op. 23, No. 2)

Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in g minor, Op. 26 - III. Finale (Allegro energico)

 

Broadcast - March 1, 1960

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61

National Orchestral Association

John Barnett, Conductor

 

Broadcast - Philharmonic Auditoriam Los Angeles - November 17, 1960

Creston Violin Concerto No 2 op 78 (World Premier)

Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

George Solti conductor

 

Broadcast from Sender Fries (Berlin) - October 17, 1961

Faure - Violin Sonata No.1 in A major, Op 13

Sarasate - Zapateado, Op.23/2

Lothar Broddack, Piano

Paganini - From 24 Capricen, op.1 - No.5, 9, 13, 14, 17, 24

Ysaye - Sonata for solo violin No.3 "Ballade", Op.27/3

 

Broadcast - November 10, 1961

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35

Philadelphia Orchestra

William Smith, Conductor

 

Bell Telephone Hour - February 2, 1962

[soundtrack from color TV broadcast on NBC]

Kreisler : Caprice Viennois

Kreisler : Tambourin Chinois

 

Town Hall New York - March 19, 1962

Creston: Violin Concerto No.2, Op.78 (1960)

Little Orchestra Society

Thomas Scherman, Conductor

 

Broadcast from Baden-Baden - October 4, 1962

Saint Saens: Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61

Sudwestfunks Symphony Orchestra,

Ernest Bour, Conductor

 

RIAS broadcast from Berlin - October 30, 1962

Beethoven - Violin Sonata No.8 in G, Op.30/3

Engel-Zimbalist: Sea-Shell

Milhaud-Levy: Piece No.8 "Tijuca" from the suite Saudades du Brasil

Szymanowski: Three Mythen , Op.30 - No.1 "La Fontaine d'Arethuse"

Spalding: Dragonfly for Solo Violin

Lothar Borddack, Piano

 

Broadcast - Ravinia Festival - August 3, 1967

Brahms : Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Rafael Kubelik, Conductor

 

Broadcast - July 11, 1968

Prokofiev : Violin Concerto No. 2 in g minor, Op. 63.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Andre Vandernoot, Conductor

 

Broadcast - March 3, 1969

Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77

Orchestre symphonique de Québec

Walter Susskind, Conductor

Part of Cadenza missing from this performance

 

Broadcast - June 12 1969

Sarasate; Malauena

Sarasate; Carmen Fantaisia

Tchikovsky; Meditation

Wieniawski; Caprice in a minor

Kroll; Banjo and Fiddel

Satasate; Habanera

Sarasate; Zapateardo

Pianist Lottar Broddack

 

Broadcast - 1969

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35

Montreal Symphony Orchestra

Franz-Paul Decker, Conductor

Part of Cadenza missing from this performance

 

Broadcast - January 18, 1970

Beethoven Violin Concerto D dur Op61

first movement only

Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra

Gregory Malar

 

WQXR FM New York by Talbert American Corporation - January 20, 1970

Interview with Michael Rabin before solo

Saint-Saens - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Op.28

Interview with Michael Rabin before solo

Paganini - Caprice No.9, Op.1 "La Chasse"

Sarasate - Habanera Op.21 No2

Mitchell Andrews, piano

 

Broadcast from Severance Hall, Cleveland - November 16, 1971

Bruch - Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra , Op.46

Cleveland Orchestra

Arthur Fiedler

Conducted by Donald Voorhees

**All performance on Bell Telephone Hour are with

Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra **

 

WNYC New York - Michael Rabin Special - date unknown

Programme by and with Sara Fishko

 

KEY TO ORIGINS AND SOURCES OF THESE ARCHIVE RECORDINGS

This list has been compiled with information supplied from collectors of "Off the Air" throughout the world. Any additional information will be gratefully acknowledged
Origins of recordings and Corrections and additional information
Jack Bell of Chicago
Steve Winkler
Tom Vendetti
William Palmer
Daniel Orenstein
Michael Waiblinger(MW)
and a very generous New York collector(J.A.)
KEY TO ORIGINS AND SOURCES OF THESE ARCHIVE RECORDINGS
Date format of "off the air" recording DD/MM/YY
        

Michael Rabin - The Commercial Recordings


"Rabin's fantastic....[he] sails trough the difficult Paganini with a display of technical virtuosity to make you gasp. The agility with which he hurdles the staccati, his precise double-stopping; and the sheer virility of his attack virtually overpower a work celebrated for its formidable difficulty..." John Thornton in HiFi Stereo Review (January 1961)

PAGANINI Caprices op 1

Nos 1 5 9 11 13 14 16 17 18 21 24 Columbia Masterworks ML2168 recorded May 19 1950 (nos 1 13 16 18) recorded May 25 1950 (nos 14 17 21 11)

MICAEL RABIN PLAYS

1.Dvorak - Slavonic Dance op 10 No 2 E moll 2.Wieniawski - Etude A moll op 18 No 4 3.Sarasate - Carmen Fantasy op 25 Finale 4.Kreisler - La Chasse op 2 5.Engle - Sea Shells (arr Zimbalsit) 6.Kroll - Banjo and Fiddle Artur Balsam (piano) Columbia Masterworkes LP AAL 30 (10") recorded March 5 1952 (items 1 5 6) recorded March 18 1952 (items 2 3 4) >

MICAEL RABIN AND DONALD VOORHEES

Paganini - Perpetuuum Mobile op 11 Novacek - Perpetuuum Mobile op 5 Sarasate - Zigeunerweisen op 20 No 1 Columbia Symphony orchestr conducted Donald Voorhees Columbia AL38 (10") recorded January 29 1953

PAGANINI Violin Concerto in D major op 6

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Matacic (Cadenza by Carl Flesch) Columbia 33CX 1281 recorded December 1954

GLAZOUNOV Violin Concerto in A op 82

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Matacic Columbia 33CX 1281 recorded December 1954

MICHAEL RABIN

Bach - Solo Sonata No 3 C dur Ysaye - Solo Sonata op27 No 3 D moll "Ballade" Dedicated to Georges Enescu Ysaye - Solo Sonata op27 No 4 C moll Dedicated to Fritz Kreisler Angel 35302 Recorded in 1955

TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto D dur op 35

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Alceo Galliera Columbia 33CX 1422 recorded 1956

SAINT-SAENS Introduction and Rondo Cappriccioso op 28

Violin and Orchestra Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Alceo Galliera Columbia 33CX 1422 recorded 1956

BRUCH Scottish Fantasy op 46

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Sir Adrian Boult Columbia 33CX 1538 recorded 1957

WIENIAWSKY Violin Concerto No 1 F# moll op 14

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Sir Adrian Boult Columbia 33CX 1538 recorded 1957 Capital PBR 8477

PAGANINI 24 caprices op 1

Recorded 5 -9 September 1958


MENDELSSOHN Violin Concert E moll op 64

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Sir Aidrian Boult Columbia 33CX 1597 reorded 1958

RAVEL Tzigane (Rhapsody de Concert) (1924)

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Sir Aidrian Boult Columbia 33CX 1597 reorded 1958

SAINT-SAENS Havanaise op 83

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Sir Aidrian Boult Columbia 33CX 1597 reorded 1958

MOSSAICS

Chopin - Nocturne op 27 No2 Wieniawski - Caprice A moll Mompou - Jeunes Filles au Jardin No 5 Scriabin - Etude in Thirds op 8 No 10 Debussy - La plus Que Lente - valse (1910) Sarasate - Habanera op 21 Elgar - La Capricieuse op 17 Engle - Sea Shells (arr Zimbalist) Sarasate - Zapateado op 23 Ravel - Piece en form de Habanera Prokofiev - March (Love of Three Oranges) op 33 (1919) Suk - No 4 Burleska Leon Pommers piano Capitol SP 8506 recorded 1958

THE MAGIC BOW

Kreisler - Caprice Viennois op 2 Dinicu-Heifetz - Hora Staccato Massenet - Meditation "Thais" Sarsate - Zigeunerweisen op 20 No 1 Paganini - Kreisler - Moto Perpetuo Brandl - Kreisler - The Old Refrain Rimsky-Korsakov - Flight of the Bumble Bee Saint-Saens - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Conducted Felix Slatkin Capital K60690 recorded 1960

The Paganini Moto Perpetuo on this disc was recorded in one take. The story goes that
the engineer wanted to get sound levels. Rabin started the Paganini and immediately
everyone realised it was something special and within a fraction of a second conductor
orchestra and soloist were as one. It was decided to issue the take for its perfection
and sheer driving pace. As one listens to it, it is indeed one of those great moments in the
recording history of the violin - thank you Michael Rabin.

MICHAL RABIN IN MEMORIAM

The Magic Bow was later reissued on Seraphin label S-60199

PAGANINI Violin Concerto in D major op 6

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Sir Eugene Goossens (Cadenza by Carl Flesch) Capital K70434 recorded 1960

WIENIAWSKY Violin Concerto No 2 D moll op 22

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted Sir Eugene Goossens Capital K70434 recorded 1960


Michael Rabin - The Motion Pictures


RHAPSODY


MGM 1954 Starring Elizabeth Taylor and Vittorio Gassman Sound Track recorded by Michel Rabin Who does not appear in the film


Brahms Mendelssohn Violin Concerto E moll op 64 (Fragment) Saint-Saens Debussy La plus Que Lente - valse (1910) Paganini Caprice op1/#5 A moll Scale Passage Sarasate Zigeunerweisen op 26 Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto D dur op 35 (Fragment) Claudio Arrau (piano)


Young Michael Rabin who celebrated his seventeenth birthday while recording the sound track for the motion picture "Rhapsody" plays through some of the music used in the film for two of the directors

Michael Rabin - The Video Recordings

Telecast "Milton Berl Show Texaco Star Theater" - May 29 1951

Kreisler Tambourin Chinois op 3

Telecast "Carnegie Hall" - 1954

Schubert Duo Sonata A op 162 1st Movement

Brahms Violin Sonata in D minor op 108 2nd Movement David Garvey piano

Telecast "Bell Telephone Hour" - 1960

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto D Major op 35 3rd Movement

Telecast "Bell Telephone Hour" - 1962

Kreisler Caprice viennois Kreisler Tambouin chinois




Michael Rabin - The Violin

When Originally I wrote... Michael Rabin played on a beautiful example of the Cremonese maker Guarnerius del Gesu dated 1735. The 1735 violin can be seen to advantage in the photograph on page 172 of "How they Play" Volume 3. In "Michael Rabin Remembered - Henry Roth May 1986 Strad Magazine pages 44-47,on page 46 the date is erroneously given as 1737 This was the only information I was able to include in this section at that time. Jack Bell of Chicago then contacted me to point out that the date was incorrect and that he had seen the violin when he met Michael Rabin who had told him that his violin was dated 1735. Years later Jack Bell in a meeting with Kyung Wha Chung after a concert when she had performed a Prokofiev concerto discovered that she had played on Rabin's violin that evening and she also gave the date of the violin as 1735. The violin as far as is know is still in the possession of the Kyung Wha Chung. After further research the following facts have come to light. The violin used by Michael Rabin was the Guarnerius del Gesu of 1735 "The Townley" some previous known keepers of the violin were Jan Kubelik (1880 - 1940)then Ferenc von Vecsey(1893 - 1935). From the time Michael Rabin acquired this violin, it was the only violin he used until his death and we are informed that it was used for all his recordings and concerts. In concert notices for Michael Rabin's 1971-72 season there is mention that he plays on a magnificent 1735 del Gesu violin. Details of the "Townley" del Gesu come from the Jaeger,Emmanuel. Laurent,Frederic and Molkhou, Jean-Michel, "Encyclopedia of the Violin"(1997) Multimedia CD. The story of "The Townley" 1735 violin, while in the hands of von Vecsey can be found in the Peter Longo book "The Violins of von Vecsey" ed SIEI. Unless the damage is corrected it would not be difficult to recognise this violin in a photograph or close up at a concert, especially a TV concert. It is distinguishable by the damage to the varnish on the right at the end of the finger-board (e-string side). This can be clearly seen in the photograph below.
Copyright Cheniston K Roland O.L. (Violin Historian) October 2000




Telecast "Famous Violinists and their Insruments" - 1969

A documentary in which Rabin talks about and shows his del Gesu violin.


Michael Rabin - The Bibliography

 

This first, authorized biography of one of the 20th century’s greatest violinists chronicles the life of Michael 
Rabin from his young boyhood to his premature death at the age of 35. By his teen years in the 1950s, he had 
already joined the ranks of violin greats and he was being compared to Heifetz, Milstein, Stern, and Francescatti.
Lovingly detailed, rich in music history and drama, this biography documents the many forces that shaped Rabin’s 
extraordinary life and career, from his meteoric rise to his surprising decline. Feinstein charts Rabin’s many 
artistic successes, as well as his struggles to make the transition from wunderkind to adult virtuoso,and sheds 
light on the true reasons for his fall from grace, debunking the many rumors that surrounded him during that time. 
Feinstein also clarifies the facts relating to Rabin’s sudden death. What emerges is a unique profile of a prodigious
talent and a tragic life. (from Amadeus Press web site) 
  • Fieinstein, Anthony. Michal Rabin, America's Virtuoso Violinist (2005),Amadeus Press, New
    Jersey. An illustrated biography
  • Applebaum, Samuel & Sada The Way They Play Vol 3 (1975), Paganini Press New York pages 157 - 169. An illustrated article
  • Campbell, Margaret The Great Violinists(1980), Granada Publishing London page 275
  • Roth, Henry Violin Virtuosos From Paganini to the 21 Century (1997)   California Classic Books Los Angeles. The author has some interesting comments and observations on the violinist Michael Rabin
  • Schwartz, Boris Great Masters of the Violin(1983)  Robert Hale London pages 566 - 568. photo page 564 A profile of Michael Rabin


     

    Michael Rabin - The Articles

  • Profile - December 1950 Strad Magazine
  • The Making of a Violinist - as told to Rose Heylbut - Etude Magazine August 1952
  • Obituary - (3 lines) - March 1972 Strad Magazine page 535
  • Michael Rabin Remembered - Henry Roth May 1986 Strad Magazine pages 44-47
  • Michael Rabin Story - Time Magazine (date unknown)


    Michael Rabin - The World Wide Web Pages

  • Michael Rabin Collection in University of Mishigan Library This site contains detailed information of its holdings of personal papers belonging to the late Michael Rabin together with music scores annotated by both Michael Rabin and his teacher Ivan Galamian
  • Some Interesting recordings An alphabetical list of recordings(incomplete)
  • Michael Rabin Home Page Some interesting information


  • Michael Rabin - The Devotees

    Michael Rabin Yahoo Group
    This group although small at the moment, is run by a very enthusiastic young man
    Scott Bosley. It was because of this group and its activities that I was motivated to
    compile this web page.
    

    My eternal thanks to Jack Bell of Chicago and William Palmer for taking the time to proof read
    this page and suggest corrections.

    If you have any additional information about Michael Rabin please e-mail me from this page Cheniston K Roland  I would be delighted to credit you with your entry.
    Cheniston K Roland O.L. (Violin Historian) Copyright August 2000
    Corrections & new information added 29 August 2006


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