Nathan Milstein, one of the 20th century’s most revered violinists, is celebrated here in the second volume of a landmark series reissuing his complete solo 78rpm recordings for American Columbia. Long overshadowed by his concerto legacy, these solo performances—made between 1935 and 1945—are presented in full for the first time in any official release. Featuring Milstein at the height of his youthful virtuosity and interpretive depth, this volume includes his only commercial recordings of works by Stamitz and Paganini, and offers first-time digital/CD availability of Gluck, Schumann, Brahms and more.
A protégé of Leopold Auer and contemporary of Vladimir Horowitz, Milstein brought a combination of elegance, precision and emotional intensity to everything he played. Joined by his longtime accompanist Artur Balsam, Milstein explores both Classical and Romantic repertoire with luminous phrasing and technical brilliance. These rare and historic performances are a vital addition to the Milstein discography and a must for any serious collector of great violin playing.
We also celebrate the 110th birthday later this month of Mario Del Monaco with an automatic 15% discount on all his recordings at Pristine.